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Beninese, West Africa

Head of a king (Oba), probably 1700s

Now On View

Description

Maker

Culture

Beninese

Title

Head of a king (Oba)

Year

probably 1700s

Medium

Bronze

Materials/Techniques

Materials

Dimensions

Height: 26.7 x 19.7 x 21.6 cm (10 1/2 x 7 3/4 x 8 1/2 inches)

Place

West Africa; Nigeria

Type

Credit

Gift of Miss Lucy T. Aldrich

Object Number

39.054

Projects & Publications

Publications

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Intermission

December 16, 2016 - July 2, 2017

This head was made by Benin royal artists in West Africa. It is an example of the lost-wax casting technique. A wax model was fashioned, covered in clay to create a mold, and heated to melt the wax; liquid bronze was then poured into the void left by the melted wax and allowed to cool. Bronzes like this head illustrate the technical mastery of Benin artists, who were introduced to lost- wax casting by Yoruba artists. Metalworking remains an important tradition in this part of Africa today.

This work is an idealized representation of an oba, or king, of the Edo people of Benin. He wears a cap of coral beads, indicating his status, with a single cowrie shell placed on the middle of his forehead. Beaded strands and braids frame his face. Above each of his eyes— shown wide open to signify that he was all-seeing—are three scarification patterns. A tubular bead collar covers his chin and neck. An elephant tusk, carved using techniques acquired through trade with the Portuguese, once protruded from the hole on top of the head. Commemorative heads such as this one were placed on ancestral altars in the royal palace.

A powerful figure, the oba held responsibility not only for himself but for his entire kingdom. He oversaw resources and regulated trade with other African kingdoms and Portuguese, Dutch, and other European traders. In the 1600s and 1700s, when this object was made, the Benin Empire was at its height, exerting a powerful presence on the west coast of Africa. Following the unsuccessful attempts at annexation, British forces sacked the Begin kingdom in 1897, burning cities, forcing the reigning king, Oba Ovonranwmen, into exile and looting works of art and other treasures in a campaign known as the Punitive Expedition. Soon after, museums and individuals throughout Europe and the United States were collecting Benin bronzes. In recent years, some works have been repatriated to Nigeria.

European Galleries

This bronze head is an idealized representation of an oba (king) of the Edo people of Benin, West Africa. Made in the same time period as surrounding works of European art in this gallery, this example illustrates the technical mastery of royal Benin artists, who were introduced to lost-wax casting techniques by neighboring Yoruba artists. Metalworking remains an important tradition in this part of Africa today.

Commemorative heads such as this one were commissioned by an incoming oba to honor his departed predecessor, and were placed on ancestral altars in the royal palace. The oba’s high status is indicated by his cap of coral beads and the single cowrie shell placed on the middle of his forehead. Braids and additional beaded
strands frame his face. Above each of his eyes—opened wide to signify that he was all-seeing—are three scarification patterns. A tubular bead collar covers his chin and neck. An elephant tusk, carved using techniques acquired through trade with the Portuguese, once protruded from the hole on top of his head.

The oba possessed political and religious authority and held sweeping powers over his subjects. The official owner of Benin lands and final adjudicator of justice, he oversaw resources and regulated trade with other African kingdoms and with European traders, including the Portuguese and Dutch. During the period in which this sculpture was made, the Benin Empire exerted a powerful presence on the west coast of Africa.

In 1897, following unsuccessful attempts at annexation, British forces sacked the Benin kingdom, burning cities, forcing the reigning king into exile, and looting works of art and other treasures in a campaign known as the Benin Punitive Expedition. Soon after, museums and individuals throughout Europe and the United States began collecting Benin bronzes, including this one.

The RISD Museum recognizes the looted status of this sculpture and has initiated communication with the current Benin oba,

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Head of a king (Oba) with the accession number of 39.054. To request a higher resolution file, please submit an online request.