Humanoid bell head ("Birmingham bell") · Nigeria, Lower Niger · ID: 3047969
Description
bronze, with clapper
During the late 19th century, when Nigeria was a British colony, effigy bells were made in England (Birmingham) and traded in the Niger Delta.
The present specimen is probably a “Birmingham bell”. A comparative piece is illustrated in Peek, 2021, p. 142, Fig. 11.4.
The object Humanoid bell head (“Birmingham bell”) with the object ID 3047969 was last part of the auction 96th Auction at April 24, 2021 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 208 achieved a sales price of EUR 650.
Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.
Comparing literature
Peek, Philip M., The Lower Niger Bronzes, New York, London 2021, p. 142, Figure 11.4