19th C. Benin Bronze Altar Choker Head of an Oba

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Ancient / Ethnographic - Holiday Edition

By Artemis Gallery

Dec 5, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-12-05 10:00:00 2019-12-05 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient / Ethnographic - Holiday Edition https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic---holiday-edition-4710
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• Lot Description
  Africa, Nigeria, Edo, Court of Benin, ca. 19th or earlier. An impressive bronze cast "choker" head depicting an Oba (king of Benin) wearing an elaborate netlike "coral" cap with aliform feather-like ornaments, two cross-like motifs at the front and back, a central tall cylindrical adornment with a spiked finial, two long beaded strands falling to either side of the handsome face, and additional decorative elements decorating the rim, as well as a high "coral" beaded choker with two "coral" strands below. The luxurious regalia are significant royal court attributes that identify this as the head of an Oba. The visage is handsome and idealistic - presenting the oba as youthful during the prime of his life - and features open ovoid eyes with delineated pupils, an aquiline nose, full lips with philtrum delineated, petite ears, and smooth facial planes. A piece like this would have been commissioned by a newly enthroned oba to stand on an altar and commemorate a previous oba, most likely his father. Size: 4.5" L x 4.375" W x 9.125" H (11.4 cm x 11.1 cm x 23.2 cm)
  
  The oba of Benin rules via divine right and serves as the being through which his deified royal ancestors protect and invigorate the kingdom. In Benin, the head is a prominent symbol representing an individual's ability to progress successfully through life and develop himself so that he may one day be a revered and helpful ancestor. A sculptural representation of Benin rulers with aliform head ornamentation like we see in this example was first introduced by Oba Osemwede (1816-46).
  
  Similar examples may be found in the British Museum, published in Leon Underwood's "Bronzes of West Africa" - figure 31 - (London, 1949) and William B. FAGG: Bildwerke aus Nigeria, Munchen 1963, S. 45; the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum published in Felix von LUSCHAN: Die Altertumer von Benin, Band 1-3, Berlin 1919, Tafel 59; The Perls Collection in The Metropolitain Museum of Art, New York published in Kate EZRA: Royal Art of Benin. The Perls Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 1992, S. 36; and several other museum collections.
  
  Provenance: private Armen Khachadourian collection, California, USA, acquired prior to 1999
  
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  #150348

  Condition

  Small, relatively minor, losses and cracks to a few areas of the beaded choke and twin feather-like headdress adornments. Small perforation to back of shoulders. Expected surface wear with areas of abrasions and encrustation commensurate with age. Bronze has developed a gorgeous patina of deep umber and verdigris hues. In addition there are red mineral deposits throughout.
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