Bronze Sculpture History Benin, Nigeria
With the backing of the monarchy selected artists of Benin developed a special style of sculpture vastly different from the rest of the region. They produced many fine bronze and or brass heads, figurines, brass plaques, and large rectangular metal pictures, which were used to decorate the Oba's palace.
Back
in the late 19th century when the British forces invaded Benin City,
they were overwhelmed to find artistic sculptures cast in
brass/bronze. They could not believe the technological sophistication
and exquisite beauty and quality of these objects. What they saw was a
total contradiction to what many westerners believed or assumed about
Africa. The above was too much for the British forces to bear and they
swiftly concocted excuses - "The sculptures must have been made by the
Portuguese, the Egyptians, or the lost tribes of Israel".
The so-called "Portuguese, Egyptian or Israeli" sculptures eventually
found their way to Britain and later to other parts of Europe, where
it was first classified as Benin bronze sculpture, despite it being
largely of brass. Since then archeological, historical, scientific and
anthropological studies clearly indicates that the people of Benin,
was at that time an advance culture. Benin brass/bronze sculptures are
now classified as Early, Middle and Late Century. (The latter implying
of lesser quality) Further proof of the complex societies and advanced
African cultures can found by clicking here
Mapungubwe - South Africa
The
bronze head of the Queen mother: The Benin King or Oba - Esigie
first introduced the title to honor his mother Idia. Queen mothers
had a special link with the cockerel: the heads functioned as a
means of contact with the divine realm. The king (Oba) was
associated with the leopard these types of sculptures appeared on
altars in the queen mothers palace at Uselu just outside the Capital
of Benin. Many of these old sculptures, have become famous
throughout the world. One example of these is the symbol used for
FESTAC '77, a Benin Bronze Head a true masterpiece and of the
highest quality. It is a great pity that present and future
generations of Nigeria must fly to London to see this remarkable
symbol.
Broze Sculpture The Lost Wax Process
The Benin Empire dates back to prehistoric times, the political systems that were monarchial, were well established before the fourteenth century. The Rulers of Benin and Yoruba had close ties, and by the fifteenth century Benin became and important power in the region.
The Benin Empire soon became the largest of the political systems of the Guinea Coast and toward the middle of the sixteenth century; the Oba ruled an area, which spread from modern Lagos to the Niger Delta.