This beautiful brass cast head of an Oba represents the supreme achievements of Benin metalworkers from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and was designed to honour the achievements and/or memory of these divine rulers of the Benin polities. Until the late 19th century, the Benin centres were a ruling power in Nigeria, dominating trade routes and amassing enormous wealth as the military and economic leaders of their ancient empire. This changed with the appearance of the British forces, which coveted the wealth of the royal palaces and found a series of excuses to mount a punitive expedition against the Oba’s forces in 1897. The victors ransacked palaces comprising sprawling series of compounds, with accommodation, workshops and public buildings. The length of time these were inhabited led to long history of royal rule written in sculptural works that rank among the finest that African cultures have ever produced. Brass or bronze Oba heads such as this one were used to honour the memory of a deceased king. The new Oba would pay tribute to his father by erecting an altar in his memory. These altars, low platforms of mud that were arrayed around the perimeter of the royal courtyards, were decorated with various artefacts alluding to the Oba’s achievements in life. These heads were typically arranged in pairs, each supporting an elephant’s tusk that was inserted through a hole in the top of the head. Further decorations included spears, statues, cast brass altars depicting the Oba and his followers, brass bells to awaken the spirits, rattle-staffs (ukhurhe) and magical objects that included Neolithic celts (known as “thunder stones”). The head, incidentally, always played a major role in Benin culture as it is seen as the seat of a man’s character, and in the case of the Oba the source of prosperity wellbeing for the society as a whole. Indeed, the annual sacrificial ceremony of Igue is dedicated to the head of the Oba, in order to strengthen his power and thus the security and of his kingdom.

The current piece is very ornate indeed. It has a headdress with alternating vertical bands of high-relief lozenges and stippled detailing, surmounted by a further section decorated with geometric designs and crowned with a birds head. This is unusual as Oba heads are usually hollow-topped to allow the introduction of an elephants tusk. The face is youthful and well-nourished, with rimmed eyes surrounding drilled and inlaid pupils (the left one is missing). The nose is very angular and trilobate, with slits that penetrate through the casting to the interior. The sides of the eyes have a triple linear relief in a starburst design, while a similar yet incised pattern appears at the sides of the pursed lips. The ears are exceptionally small. The crown is evidently being held on by a corded strap that circles the underside of the chin; this is unlike the usual coral crown design. The base of the head is a wide disc with a flange projecting 2.5 inches from the edge of the neck, and decorated with alternating floral and cowrie-shell motifs, separated by a wavy line in relief.

Stylistically, the Benin heads follow certain conventions through time, but as metal does not lend itself to radiometric testing it is hard to be sure as to precise dates. The current figure displays an unusual combination of ancient (16th century) and more recent (18-19th century) casting methods. The headdress section, which is extraordinarily fine and decorated with hatched diamond designs and surmounted by a birds head, contrasts strongly with the heavier casting of the middle section of the mask (to include the face and the headdress). The base is similarly distinct in appearance, robust, and with a good, aged patina. This is in itself unusual as Oba heads are typically mounted on a series of neck rings of different sizes, producing a collared effect. While some very early pieces have flanged collars, the facial morphology precludes such an early date. This may therefore be a reiterative later work. In any case, the level of care and attention paid to the casting of this complex piece is astounding. It would make a worthy addition to any domestic or collection setting.