Late 19th-Early20th Century Sub-Saharan Lost Wax Bronze Plaque
Item Details
Bronze
A late 19th-early 20th century sub Saharan lost wax technique bronze plaque. The Benin style plaque depicts an oba or king and his attendants from the Benin Empire, which was a powerful empire located in present-day Nigeria. The oba in this work is seated on a donkey, with oba and donkey detailed in elaborated tooled vestments, the oba wearing a tiered haircut and holding the arms of his side attendants. The attendant to the oba’s right holds a sceptre with falcon topper, while the attendant to the left holds a sword to his left side. Two diminutive attendants are depicted to the top, along with a single one to the left base—their small scale results from their lower status level related to the _oba_’s side attendants. This plaque’s background is tooled in an overall stippled pattern with rosette accents. The plaque has holes to the four corners, allowing attachment to a vertical surface.
Condition
minor marks throughout
Dimensions
Item #
18CIN029-123