Benin: African bronze casting plaque

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Benin: African bronze casting plaque - extremly rare.

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Benin: African bronze casting plaque - extremly rare.

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Sold Date: 08/07/2008
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

Benin: bronze casting plaque.

When British forces entered Benin City in 1897 they were surprised to find large quantities of cast brass objects. The technological sophistication and overwhelming naturalism of these pieces contradicted many 19 th -century Western assumptions about Africa in general and Benin âe" regarded as the home of âe~fetishâe(tm) and human sacrifice âe" in particular. The objects must, it was supposed, have been made by the Portuguese, the Ancient Egyptians, even the lost tribe of Israel. Subsequent research has tended to stress the indigenous origins of West African metallurgy. Yet it was the naturalism that proved decisive. Their status was marked by the establishment of the term âe~Benin bronzesâe(tm), despite their being largely of brass.

Material: brass

The art of bronze casting was introduced around the year 1280.

For a long time the Benin bronze sculptures were the only historical evidence dating back. Benin art was thus predominantly Royal and so closely tied to the rituals used in service of devine KingshipAfrican very old brons Benin Art. The Bronze casting process: First the artist moulds his work in wax, providing an outlet for the melted metal in a kind of extension. The wax core is then covered with powdered clay, when wet the substance clings tightly inside every intricate depression. On top of this first coating he adds another of rougher clay mixed with kapok floss. When everything is heated, the melted wax drains off the mould. Current leaders of the kingdom of Benin trace their origins to a ruling dynasty that began in the thirteenth century. Brass commemorative heads are commissioned by each oba (king) in the first years of his reign to honor his immediate predecessor. These heads represent specific obas, they are portraits in the sense that they capture the individual features of the kings. Rather, they idealize depictions that emphasize the trappings of kingship. However, since these heads document a unique historical narrative, scholars have attempted to determine the sequence in which they were created based on their stylistic and physical attributes.

Size: 31 cm x 24 cm.

Rare and an collectors item