Tête commémorative, 18-19e siècle ·  Nigéria, Bénin · ID: 3045451

Description

terracotta, rest., base

In design, with cap and wide collar of coral beads, reminding of royal commemorative heads made of bronze “uhunmwun elao” or of “oba” wood heads.

However, commemorative heads made of terracotta were reserved for members of the brasscasters guild and were placed on their ancestral altars.

According to oral tradition a brasscaster named “Igueghae” came from Ife during the reign of Oba Oguola (late 14th century) to teach his skills to Benin craftsmen. He was said to have brought the terracotta heads to Benin to use as models in teaching. Because the process of modeling clay for the terracotta heads is virtually the same as that of modeling wax for cast brass heads.

L’objet Tête commémorative, 18-19e siècle avec l’ID d’objet 3045451 a fait partie de la dernière vente aux enchères 91e vente aux enchères Tribal Art dans 9 mars 2019 le Zemanek-Münster Hôtel des ventes. L’objet portant le numéro de lot 203 a atteint un prix de vente de 3 200 €.

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Littérature comparée

Ezra, Kate, Royal Art of Benin, New York 1992, p. 47 f.

Publications

Kaplan, Flora E. S., Images of Power, Art of the Royal Court of Benin, New York, 1981, p. 19, ill. 10

Exposition

New York University's Fine Art Museum: The Grey Art Gallery, January 23 - February 21, 1981