Commemorative head of a chief, 19th century ·  Nigeria, Benin, Edo · ID: 3048367

Description

wood, sheet brass, recess on the back

A comparable head from the Bareiss Collection illustrated at Roy, 1997, ill. 199.

Commemorative heads made of wood, sometimes covered with brass sheet, were exclusively placed on the altars of tribal chiefs.

They developed in imitation of the memorial heads of the “oba” (kings), which were always made of solid brass. Details of the royal clothing, such as the high collar, the headband and the feather tucked in above the ears, were also taken from them.

It is assumed that the heads represent certain chiefs, even if they show rather generalised, impersonal facial features. In any case, they served to demonstrate power and authority.

Comparing literature

Roy, Christopher D., Kilengi, Afrikanische Kunst aus der Sammlung Bareiss, München 1997, p. 305, ill. 199