Edo, Benin Kingdom, Nigeria
17th to 18th century
Bronze
Height 6 5/8" (16.8 cm)
Provenance: Peter Adler, London, acquired early 1980s; examined by Bill Fagg, British Museum
Leopard imagery occupies a central place in the visual language of Benin royal authority, where the animal's power served as a direct analog for the force of the oba, or king. This ornament, cast in the form of a leopard's head, was worn at the waist as part of the ceremonial costume displayed during palace festivals, occasions on which the oba and titleholders appeared in full regalia of coral beads, fine textiles, and cast brass and ivory ornaments to enact the ideology of divine kingship before the court. The relationships between the king, chiefs, and titleholders were made visible through these ritual performances, and the objects worn carried specific meanings within that hierarchical order.
The piece was examined personally by Bill Fagg, curator at the British Museum and one of the foremost 20th century authorities on Benin court art, who attributed it to the 17th to 18th century dating range. It has remained in the collection of Peter Adler, London, since the early 1980s, establishing both the attribution history and the collecting context. Adler was among the leading London dealers in African art during that period, and objects that passed through his collection carry a provenance recognized within the field.
Benin bronze casting reached a sustained level of technical and formal sophistication over several centuries of royal patronage, with the oba's court controlling both the production and distribution of cast metal objects. Belt ornaments of this type are documented in major museum collections of Benin court material, including the British Museum, and represent one of the more precisely understood categories within the corpus of royal regalia. The combination of Fagg's examination, the early 1980s Adler provenance, and the quality of the casting places this piece within the documented tradition of Benin leopard imagery produced for chiefly and royal use.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Edo, Benin Kingdom, Nigeria
17th to 18th century
Bronze
Height 6 5/8" (16.8 cm)
Provenance: Peter Adler, London, acquired early 1980s; examined by Bill Fagg, British Museum
Leopard imagery occupies a central place in the visual language of Benin royal authority, where the animal's power served as a direct analog for the force of the oba, or king. This ornament, cast in the form of a leopard's head, was worn at the waist as part of the ceremonial costume displayed during palace festivals, occasions on which the oba and titleholders appeared in full regalia of coral beads, fine textiles, and cast brass and ivory ornaments to enact the ideology of divine kingship before the court. The relationships between the king, chiefs, and titleholders were made visible through these ritual performances, and the objects worn carried specific meanings within that hierarchical order.
The piece was examined personally by Bill Fagg, curator at the British Museum and one of the foremost 20th century authorities on Benin court art, who attributed it to the 17th to 18th century dating range. It has remained in the collection of Peter Adler, London, since the early 1980s, establishing both the attribution history and the collecting context. Adler was among the leading London dealers in African art during that period, and objects that passed through his collection carry a provenance recognized within the field.
Benin bronze casting reached a sustained level of technical and formal sophistication over several centuries of royal patronage, with the oba's court controlling both the production and distribution of cast metal objects. Belt ornaments of this type are documented in major museum collections of Benin court material, including the British Museum, and represent one of the more precisely understood categories within the corpus of royal regalia. The combination of Fagg's examination, the early 1980s Adler provenance, and the quality of the casting places this piece within the documented tradition of Benin leopard imagery produced for chiefly and royal use.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
