This attractive bust was made by the artisans of
the Benin Empire. The striking naturalism of the
rendering attests not only to their technical and
aesthetic skill, but also to their flexibility towards
foreign influence. The piece is an accurate
depiction of an oba,, with a very composed and
serene expression. The detailing of the regalia
and clothing he wears reflects a great deal about
the heritage represented – it is unlike the
majority of earlier Benin pieces and instead
echoes the western sculptural tradition and
European tastes in the closing days of the
empire.
Until the late 19th century, the Benin centres
were a ruling power in Nigeria, dominating trade
routes and amassing enormous wealth as the
military and economic leaders of their ancient
empire. This changed with the appearance of
British imperial forces, which coveted the wealth
of the royal palaces and found a series of
excuses to mount a punitive expedition against
the Oba’s forces in 1897. It was only at this
point, the moment of its’ destruction, that the
true achievements of the Benin polities became
apparent to western scholars.
Benin royal palaces comprised a sprawling series
of compounds containing accommodation,
workshops and public buildings. As it grew, the
buildings pertaining to previous Obas were either
partially refurbished or left in favour of newer
constructions; this led to a long history of royal
rule written in sculptural works that rank among
the finest that African cultures have ever
produced; until European advances in the 19th
century, they were the finest bronzes that had
ever been made.
Pieces such as this were emblematic of the
decline and eventual fall of the empire, but are at
the same time symbolic of the survival of Benin’s
proudest sculptural traditions. This is an
endearing piece of African art.
