The Art of BeninWhen the Portuguese made the first European contact with the west African kingdom of Benin in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, the kingdom was experiencing a golden age. Its authority on the Guinea Coast was expanding through military conquests, and during the sixteenth century it became a leading power in the region and a major trade partner for European merchants. Benin remained an influential independent state and a major political and economic power on the coast, though with periods of both decline and prosperity, until its conquest by the British in 1897. The arrival in Europe of the treasures from Benin produced an enormous sensation, causing a re-evaluation of and new appreciation for African art. This sumptuous photographic book showcases a series of specially taken photographs of key pieces in the British Museum's collection. It opens with an introduction to the kingdom, court and culture of Benin, which is followed by thematic sections including kingship, ceremony, women, Europeans, and animals. Throughout, stunning photographs of the works are featured alongside close-up details. |
Contents
DIRECTORS FOREWORD | 7 |
HEADS AND HANDS IN BENIN HEARTS | 33 |
THE COURT | 70 |
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Common terms and phrases
18th century Afro-Portuguese ancestral altars art of Benin artistic bead regalia bells Benin art Benin Bronzes Benin City bird of prophecy bracelets brass casters brass heads brass sheeting British Museum carved tusks Cast brass centre ceremonial Commemorative head copper coral beads court crocodile decorated Department of Africa depicted diam dress eben elephant European Ewuare facial scarification female festival FIGURE flywhisk foreign geometric grey heron guild hand Hip mask horns horsemen human idiophones Igala Igbo-Ukwu images important inlaid iron ivory iyase kingdom kingship leopard Lower Niger Bronze male mark metal casting motifs mudfish necklet Niger Delta Nigeria nineteenth century Oba Esigie Oba Ovonramwen objects Ododua Ogun Olokun Osun photographs pieces Plaque showing Portuguese Queen Mother ritual royal altars royal palace ruler sacrifice scarification seen shrines sixteenth century style sword Town Chiefs trade tradition Ugie Oro ukhurhe rattle staffs warrior wears worn Yoruba