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HOME :
African & Tribal Art :
Ife : Ife Stone Head
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Ife Stone Head - PF.6043
Origin: Nigeria
Circa: 16
th
Century AD
to 20
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
10" (25.4cm) high
Collection: African
Medium: Stone
$9,000.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
Ife, the capital and religious center of Southwest
Nigeria, was one of the first Sub-Saharan cities
to emerge at the end of the first millennium AD.
A substantial number of anthropomorphic and
zoomorphic sculptures, made most frequently in
terracotta although brass was also employed,
were produced in the region between the 11th
and the 15th centuries. This distinctive style is
broadly referred to as “Ife”, even though some
examples may come from other cities such as
Owo. The brass objects especially are strikingly
realistic, despite the fact they are almost
certainly idealized portraits of dead kings, called
Oni. The terracotta heads are more
numerous and varied, no doubt a result of the
comparative abundance and ease of working the
material. Some of the faces, whether made of
brass or terracotta, carry vertical parallel
incisions, possibly representing scarification or
body paint.
This rare stone bust is a perfect example of the
Ife style. The molding of the facial structure is
incredibly naturalistic. Although worn, the
curves of the flesh are well depicted, especially
apparent around the figure’s eyes and brow. The
figure wears a tight fitting cap with a small
ornament of concentric rings and a protruding
crest that has broken off. Such caps and
ornaments occur frequently in Ife portraiture.
This crown probably symbolizes the figure’s
royal status and echoes the ribbed appearance of
the figure’s neck. Here, the faded series of
undulating rings represent stylized necklaces
that were, and still are, a sign of wealth and rank
in African society. This head also bears the
pattern of vertical parallel incisions that is the
hallmark of the Ife style. The site of Ife was
traditionally revered by Benin kings as their place
of origin and the decapitated heads of Benin
kings were buried there. Might this sculpture
commemorate a Benin king whose head was
interred in Ife? Perhaps sculptors carved this
effigy of a Benin king in the Ife style to honor his
mythical origin.
- (PF.6043)
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