A bronze head in the style of Benin, Nigeria, of unknown age, which is more well known from the related horseman, depicting Oranmiyan a prince who was the first to bring horses to Benin. He lived in the 13th century. According to the legend, it was this warrior prince who arrived from the ancient Yoruba capital Ife. He was the founder of the second (and current) dynasty of Benin.  He is wearing all his princely regalia and his multi-layered hat is magnificent. The root of the word Benin comes from the word prince Oranmiyan used for his new place - ibini. condition: extremly weathered and different layers of encrusted, oxidised patina, remnants of laterit dust.

A similar exemplare was exhibited during our Ife/Benin exhibition in August 2008, together with a copy of the related horseman.

Felix von Luschan: Die Altertümer von Benin, Band 1-3, Berlin 1919, S. 174 und 297.  Philip Dark, W./ B. Forman: Die Kunst von Benin, Prag 1960, S. 50. Paula Girshick Ben-Almos: The art of Benin, London 1995, S. 54.,Barbara Plankensteiner (Hg.): Benin. Könige und Rituale. Höfische Kunst aus Nigeria, Wien 2007, S. 449/450.

sold

Height: 42 cm
Weight: 4,75 kg