Ads
related to: african ivory carvings
Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
The supply of African ivory contracted greatly in the later 14th century; one result was a rise in bone carving for "marriage caskets", mirror, and religious pieces. The north Italian Embriachi workshop led this trend, supplying bone carvings even to princes and the extremely wealthy; when they used ivory it was usually hippopotamus teeth.
African ivory has been treasured since ancient times in part because of how it could be carved as well as how difficult it was to acquire. [3] These qualities additionally mean that ivory has always been a symbol of wealth and luxury that can was used to decorate the ivory coffers of Tutankhamen's Egypt, as well as the ivory throne made by King Solomon. [3]
The Saltcellar with Portuguese Figures is a salt cellar in carved ivory, made in the Kingdom of Benin in West Africa in the 16th century, for the European market. It is attributed to an unknown master or workshop who has been given the name Master of the Heraldic Ship by art historians.
The Benin Altar Tusk was commissioned by Ọba Osemwende, who reigned from 1816 to 1848, and carved by the Igbesanmwan, a royal ivory carving guild. [28] As per Edo tradition, it is mandatory for each newly enthroned Oba to erect an altar within the initial three years of their reign. This altar is dedicated to the deified predecessor of the ...
The object was shaped into a carved, stylized, ivory leopard with spots of inlaid copper. [34] Each of the leopard's main body parts were forged from a different tusk. [34] Often showed in pairs, a pair of carved leopards resided not only as a decoration but as an expression of superiority within the Oba's palace in Benin City. [34]
This area stands out as an important centre of ivory carving due to the skill set of the carvers rather than just simply having a supply of ivory, ivory was an important commodity in long distance trade connecting various parts of Africa. [10] Ivory carvers would depict local animals in their works like crocodiles, leopards, snakes, birds as ...