Memorial head 1550 - 1650

bronze, sculpture

3d sculpting

3d model

sculpture

bronze

3d character model

sculptural image

unrealistic statue

sculpting

sculpture

3d modeling

3d character modeling

statue

This bronze "Memorial head" was crafted by the Edo people of Nigeria sometime between 1550 and 1650. The piece depicts a stylized, idealized human head with a carefully rendered face. The intricate woven patterns adorning the head and neck may represent clothing, hairstyles, or jewelry. The piece is a testament to the skill of Edo artists and their ability to capture the essence of human form in bronze. The piece is currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and its presence in this collection reflects the importance of Edo art in the global context.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Were they true to life, the high collar and netted hat of this royal memorial head would be a brilliant, beautiful red. They were made of coral beads imported from the Mediterranean Sea. And since the Benin king owned all the coral in his kingdom, its use in his outfit signified his far-reaching control of international trade. Each new Oba had a bronze head made to decorate the shrine honoring his deceased predecessor. The hole in the top of the head once held a carved elephant tusk—like the one in the case to your left—chronicling the exploits of the ancestor.