Galerie Peter Herrmann

Ancient Art from Africa

When the first Ife head was found by Leo Frobenius in 1910, the surprise at the quality and execution was so great that the work was attributed not to Africans but to a Greek colony. Yet the physiognomy and symbolism obviously speak for an African origin.

The physiognomy of this Ife head clearly shows the high standards of realism of the foundry workshops. This is particularly evident in the ears, but also in the eyes and the softly modelled nose. The ears are not only indicated, as in many Benin heads, but fully sculpted. Only at the neck are they punched out for attachment to a wooden hull.

The high quality of Ife heads long led to the assumption that the origins of the bronze casting tradition in West Africa were to be found in Ife. However, as the ethnologist Stefan Eisenhofer conclusively proves in some of his articles, this theory of origin is by no means proven. The tradition could just as well have originated in Benin, because in contrast to the area around Ife, old workshops in Benin can be traced back about 1000 years.

Typical holes at the hairline, mouth and cheeks. Remains of reddish brown colouring. Excavation patina. Traces of deformation and light impact. The elegance in the overall appearance makes this object a rare top piece.