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Galerie Peter Herrmann |
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Ancient Art from Africa |
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| Bust of an Important Ife Person |
Thermoluminescence-Report |
Ife-Style, Benin, Nigeria
18th century
Bronze
46,5 cm
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This circa 120-year-old bust is rendered in the sensitive Ife style. While the smooth surface and lack of a patina on the face highlight the relative youth of the object, the remarkably dignified expression and realistic facial characteristics definitely beg comparison to older works. Pearl necklaces and traditional signs of grandeur like the ram's horn in the figure's left hand and the jewellery on his chest were seen as official marks of dignity and indicate that the person depicted was a prominent figure in Ife. The crown and (unfortunately slightly damaged) ornamentation on the forehead even indicate that this might be an Oni (king of Ife).
Cp.:
Frank WILLETT: Ife. Metropole afrikanischer Kunst, Bergisch Gladbach 1967, S. 37. |
| Similar objects |
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Illustration |
| Wunmonije Compound, Ife, Museum für Ife-Altertümer
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Ekpo EYO, Frank Willett: Kunstschätze aus Alt-Nigeria, Mainz 1983, S. 104. |
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William B. FAGG: Bildwerke aus Nigeria, München 1963, S. 38. |
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Frank WILLETT: Ife. Metropole afrikanischer Kunst, Bergisch Gladbach 1967, S. 37. |
| Federal Department of Antiquities, Lagos, Nigeria |
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Elsy LEUZINGER: Die Kunst von Schwarz-Afrika, Recklinghausen 1972, S. 145. |
| Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim (Ausstellung 28. Mai - 27. August 2000) |
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Ife, Akan und Benin. Westafrikanische Kunst aus 2000 Jahren, Pforzheim 2000, S. 47. |
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