This striking anthropomorphic figure was made in Benin, an ancient kingdom of Nigeria. It attests to a tradition, around 1000 years old, of extremely fine bronze (actually brass) casting, with which they captured likenesses of members of the court. This figure is an example of a court dwarf. Medical conditions are not always easy to identify in ancient art, but the short limbs, concave chest and oversized head of this piece stand out against the refined lines of other contemporary Benin objects. He is dressed in a loincloth and necklaces. His hair is ornate and arranged in roundels.
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 British imperial 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. It was only at this point, the moment of its destruction, that the true achievements of the Benin polities became apparent to western scholars.

Benin royal palaces comprised a sprawling series of compounds containing accommodation, workshops and public buildings. As it grew, the buildings pertaining to previous Obas were either partially refurbished or left in favour of newer constructions; this led to a long history of royal rule written in sculptural works that rank among Africa’s finest; until European industrial advances in the 19th century, they were the finest bronzes (more properly brasses) ever made. Sculptures such as this were placed on the commemorative altars of dead Obas, which were decorated with heads, cast brass objects 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”).

Dwarf figures are not usually associated with altars, although their inclusion on ancestor shrines has been noted. Dwarfs were a vital part of court society, and it is probable that they occupied a similar role to dwarfs, jesters and other entertainers in mediaeval European royal courts. The fact that they were immortalized in such an expensive manner indicates that they must have had some considerable status within the society. Dwarf figures are known from the 12th century onwards. However, the lack of patination and the comparatively expressionist style of this example places it considerably later, probably a reiterative piece from the 20th or maybe the 19th century.