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Benin Ivory Hip Ornament - PF.5498 (LSO)
*CLICK ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE* This remarkable piece of carved ivory is a hip ornament from one of the royal enclosures at the court of Benin. The artists of Benin were without doubt the finest craftsmen on the African continent, and still rank among the very highest echelons of ancient craftsmanship. Their grasp of complex technological processes, combined with a distinctive and visually stunning aesthetic sense makes their works among the greatest of African art treasures. The current specimen is a case in point. A small yet extremely powerful unit within the Nigerian Yoruba Empire, the Benin people were particularly renowned for their innovative artworks, which were mostly designed to honour the achievements and/or memory of the Obas, the divine rulers of the Benin polities. 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 the British 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. Their metalworking technology was incredibly advanced, while their sculpting, in a range of materials that included ivory, was extremely refined. Dating is a key issue that has yet to be fully resolved. While brass heads and plaques are relatively diagnostic, theories concerning what style came first have not been reconciled. To further confuse matters, these items are mobile and are therefore not often found associated with any altars or other contextual information that might help date them. The colour of the mask suggests a later date, for while patinated it is not yellowed. However, the grade of the ivory varies greatly, and age does not necessarily equate with extent of use. The presence of the Portuguese heads argues for an earlier date, as the novelty of foreigners meant that they were often incorporated into court arts (especially plaques). The age of the piece is therefore ambiguous, though an intermediate date is favoured. Its aesthetic qualities cannot be overstated. What we have here is an exceptionally rare and interesting piece of elite royal adornment from arguably one of the most important indigenous art traditions in the world. An exceptional piece. - (PF.5498 (LSO))
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