Galerie Peter Herrmann


Ancient Art from Africa - Benin & Ife

Ife-Style Memorial Head of an Important Person
Benin-City, Nigeria
17th century
Bronze
28 cm


Stylistically, this head is grounded in the early Ife head tradition that dates back at least to the 13 th century. The typical facial tattoos are not, however, engraved, as was usually the case, but rather    incorporated into the cast itself.  

This head, too, is one of the four small memorial heads that stood in the Obaseki shrine.


 
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