Commemorative head of queen, Bini / Edo, Kingdom of Benin, Nigeria
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Head of queen mother, Iyoba, in bronze. The face with the serene expression, is marked by the beautiful look of the eyes with the eyelids hemmed with lashes, a straight nose, a fleshy mouth and fine scarifications on the forehead and the cheeks, starting from the lower eyelid and descending to the neck. Beads of pearls fall on the temples. The bun headdress ending with a braided tip is richly adorned with coral beads as is the high collar. These commemorative heads of Edo queens appear from the 14th century. As the mother of the Oba, Iyoba was the only woman to hold a very high office in the court of Benin. When Iyoba died, the king cast one or more commemorative heads and placed them on an altar erected in his honor. Not only are the heads commemorative of the deceased, but also reliquaries of their soul.
Beautiful old patina.
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Origin
Ex French collection
- Dimensions: H 51 cm
- Epoque: circa 1950
- Ethnie: Edo
- Matériaux: Bronze
- Pays: Nigéria