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Benin art is the art from the Kingdom of Benin [1] or Edo Empire (1440–1897), a pre-colonial African state located in what is now known as the Southern region of Nigeria. [2] Primarily made of cast bronze and carved ivory , Benin art was produced mainly for the court of the Oba of Benin – a divine ruler for whom the craftsmen produced a ...
Court and ceremonial art makes up a vital corpus of Benin art. Private and public ceremonies mark many of the important moments in Benin’s yearly calendar. In the past, an elaborate series of rites were performed throughout the year to secure otherworldly support for the kingdom’s well-being and to celebrate decisive events in its history. [1]
As a courtly art, their principal objective was to glorify the Oba, the divine king, and the history of his imperial power or to honour the Iyoba of Benin (the queen mother). [30] Art in the Kingdom of Benin took many forms, of which bronze and brass reliefs and the heads of kings and queen mothers are the best known.
The Benin ivory mask is a miniature sculptural portrait in ivory of Idia, the first Iyoba (Queen Mother) of the 16th century Benin Empire, taking the form of a traditional African mask. [1] The masks were looted by the British from the palace of the Oba of Benin in the Benin Expedition of 1897 .
The people of Benin thought that Idia had planned this because Idia was known to possess magical powers. [2] This also shows how the people of Benin thought that she was able to both evade and create havoc. [2] This resulted in Aruahan being next in line for the throne, but he saw Esigie as a threat. [2]
Benin Altar Tusks (Edo: Aken’ni Elao) are ivory artefacts from the Benin Kingdom in present-day Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.These tusks date back to the 16th century and measure approximately 61 inches (1,500 mm) in height, 5.2 inches (130 mm) in width, 4.7 inches (120 mm) in depth, and weighing 25 kilograms (55 lb) according to a sample at the British Museum.
The dispersal of Benin artworks to museums around the world catalysed the beginnings of a long and slow European reassessment of the value of West African art. The Benin art was copied and the style integrated into the art of many European artists and thus had a strong influence on the early formation of modernism in Europe. [27]
The Benin City National Museum is a national museum in Benin City, Nigeria, located in the city centre on King's Square. The museum has a significant number of artifacts related to the Benin Empire such as terracotta, bronze figures and cast iron pieces. It also has ancient art related to the early times. [1]