Ifé皇家头像 - 古代青铜器 - Yoruba - 尼日利亚
编号 84042091
匾 - 贝宁 - 尼日利亚 (没有保留价)
编号 84042091
匾 - 贝宁 - 尼日利亚 (没有保留价)
A Plaque with fragmentary double wooven flanges , with the depiction of an Oba, facing front, fine fascial features, in particular the small and carefully encirceled eyes, in his hands two panthers, holding by their tails. An expression of his power, which this gesture symbolizes. Instead of human feet, mudfishes sprout from its abdomen. The Mudfish is often shown on plaques because they hop in and out of the water in the coastal mangrove swamps, and are at home on land as well as in the sea, in the same way that the king has authority over both domains.The Oba wears a cylindrical beaded crown, deep beaded collar, protective king's bead on chest, beaded tunic, patterned skirt and waist pendants in form of small crocodile heads. Two nail holes at top. and two others at the bottom. Background surface decorated with river leaf patterns and stippling.
A similar paque (last photo sequence), Bristish Museum, looted 1897 by British forces from the royal palace, its storerooms and compounds. Source Digital Benin, Ama page 32.