New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has officially restituted three objects in its collection to Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). The Met had promised to return the objects…
Ife (aka Ile-Ife) was an ancient African city which flourished between the 11th and 15th century CE in what is today Nigeria in West Africa. Ife was the capital and principal religious centre of the...
Explore the British Museum collection and journey through two million years of human history.
See inside a new show of rarely seen west African sculptures at the British Museum
British Museum Londres. (c) Lankaart L'art du Benin est un art exceptionnel qui s'inscrit dans la lignée de la production artistique d'Ifé. L'activité artistique au Bénin est très importante : dans un premier temps, du XIVe au XVIe siècle, les artistes...
See inside a new show of rarely seen west African sculptures at the British Museum
Relief plaque, lost-wax cast in brass. Wide plaque, rectangular in form with side flanges. Background surface decorated with river leaf patterns and stippling. Three nail holes at top, three holes at bottom. Depicts three standing figures. Central warrior figure wears smooth dome-shaped helmet with central boss. Has side plaits with pendants, coral bead necklace and armlets and elaborate anklets. Wears knee-length sleeveless tunic covered with small bells and amulets. Carries bow in left hand with sword in sheath at left side, attached by baldric across chest. Flanked on right by court attendant with similar helmet and plaits.Wears beaded collar, necklace and armlets. Dressed in wrap-around patterned skirt with beaded belt. Holds sheathed sword in left hand attached to baldric across chest. Smaller omada figure on left has shaved head with central crest, side plaits with pendants. Wears loincloth and patterned scarf tied around neck. Has sheathed sword on left side attached to baldric across chest. Holds fan in right hand. Head and torso of two European (Portuguese) figures at top; both in profile, facing inwards. Long hair and beards; wear brimmed helmets with bosses and single feather.
The Benin Bronzes is the name given to a group of artifacts produced by the Benin Empire, which occupied the area which is today Nigeria. The Benin Bronzes consist of several thousand commemorative plaques and sculptures that were made of brass of variable composition (despite being called ‘bronzes’).
African art history has played a significant role in shaping the culture and history of the world. The belief that Africa is the cradle of the history of mankind is virtually unshakeable.
Bronze head, Ifé Benin. Circa 1950--The art of Benin is described as court art because it is closely associated with the king, known as oba. The tradition of bronze court objects from Ifè dates back to the 14th century.
MEANING, THEMES AND MESSAGES THE USE of THEMES to declare awareness of trials and travails. (more on this soon) IMAGE: 18th/19th century H...
The film "Black Panther" broached the subject of the theft of African cultural artifacts by European museums, In the film, the character Erik “Killmonger” Stevens
See inside a new show of rarely seen west African sculptures at the British Museum
One of the African Benin bronzes seen in British Museum.
