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Dimitri André

An Ife bronze head of unknown age, depicting a young Oba, characterized by the typical Ife style features: The corners of the upper eyelids hang over those of the lower ones. Around the lips is an accentuated edge, here especially around the upper lip. There are grooves around the neck; the bronze is heavily encrusted with various layers of reddish brown patina, partly eroded, defects on the neck, a dent at the top of the head, four openings in the neck for nails, with which the head was probably originally attached to a wooden body.

Similar bronze heads like the one of the Wunmonije Compound type are quite often found, which raises the question of their use. It is assumed that they were attached to a life-size wooden figure, possibly with movable limbs. These figures were dressed in the same way as the person depicted would have been. Perhaps the Oba was thus able to attend ceremonies and burials without being personally present. When a new Oba came into power perhaps only the bronze head was replaced.

Lit.: Frank Willet, Ife. Neue Entdeckungen der Archäologie, 2. Auflage 1975, Tafel 2 und 3. H. Meyerowitz and V. Meyerowitz, Bronzes and Terra-Cottas from Ile-Ife, The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs (Oct., 1939). Arts de L'Afrique Noire, Jean Laude, translated by Jean Decock, University of California Press Berkeley, 1966, 1. Paperback-Edition 1973.

Ife marionette (last photo).

Fair 

Head - Bronze - Ife - Nigeria 

Classical Art

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Classical Art

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

Head - Bronze - Ife - Nigeria

708 objects

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Classical Art

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

Head - Bronze - Ife - Nigeria

708 objects

Related collections