The bronze head was made using the lost wax casting technique in the early sixteenth century.[1] It is a very realistic representation of a young woman from the Benin court, who wears a high pointed ukpe-okhue crown of lattice-shaped red coral beads. The hairstyle is referred to as a "parrot's beak" hairstyle and was only allowed to be worn by the Iyoba and the major war chief.[5]
The eyes and two bands between them are inset with iron. These reflect the oral tale of how Idia came to be the Iyoba; the tale states that an oracle had told Idia to place medicine on two incisions above her eyes in order to prevent the Oba Ozolua from picking her for his wife. Oba Ozolua then went on to defeat the oracle's premonitions and Idia became the mother of Oba Esigie.[5] Above each eyebrow are engraved four cicatrices. The sophisticated technique and design of the four heads suggest that they were made in the early sixteenth century, commissioned by Idia's son Oba Esigie, and created by the imperial guild of brass-casters that was founded by the previous Oba, Oba Ogolua.[6] The heads were designed to honour her military achievements and ceremonial power.[7]
The different head in Berlin
Original useedit
Queen Idia played an instrumental role in her son's successful military campaigns against neighbouring tribes and factions. After her death, Oba Esigie ordered dedicatory heads of the queen to be made, to be placed in front of altars or in the Queen Mother's palace. The heads were designed to honour her military achievements and ceremonial power.
The British Museum head was presented to the museum by Sir William Ingram in 1897.
^ ab"commemorative head | British Museum". The British Museum. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
^Accession number 27.11.99.8. Kingdon, Zachary (2019). Ethnographic collecting and African agency in early colonial West Africa : a study of trans-imperial cultural flows. New York. p. 132. ISBN978-1-5013-3793-2. OCLC 1062395773.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ abAfrica, arts and cultures. John Mack, British Museum. New York. 2000. ISBN0-19-521727-6. OCLC 48015137.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
^Africa, arts and cultures. John Mack, British Museum. New York. 2000. ISBN0-19-521727-6. OCLC 48015137.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
^Africa, arts and cultures. John Mack, British Museum. New York. 2000. ISBN0-19-521727-6. OCLC 48015137.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
Further readingedit
Mack, John (ed.) Africa, Arts and Cultures. London, 2005.
Barley, Nigel. The Art of Benin. London: The British Museum Press, 2010.
Ben-Amos, P. Girshick. The Art of Benin. London: The British Museum Press, 1995.
January 01, 1970
bronze, head, queen, idia, commemorative, bronze, head, from, medieval, kingdom, benin, west, africa, that, probably, represents, idia, mother, esigie, made, during, early, sixteenth, century, benin, court, many, benin, works, entered, european, market, after,. The Bronze Head of Queen Idia is a commemorative bronze head from the medieval Kingdom of Benin in West Africa that probably represents Idia mother of Oba Esigie made during the early sixteenth century at the Benin court Many Benin works of art entered the European art market after the Benin Expedition of 1897 Four cast bronze heads of the queen are known and are currently in the collections of the British Museum in London 1 the World Museum in Liverpool 2 the Nigerian National Museum in Lagos 3 and the Ethnological Museum of Berlin 4 Bronze Head of Queen IdiaThe head on display at the British Museum Material Bronze actually Brass and Iron Sizeheight 41cmwidth 15 5cmdepth 17 5cmWeight3 9kgCreatedSixteenth century ADDiscoveredBenin CityPresent locationBritish MuseumRegistrationAf1897 1011 1CultureBenin Court ArtDescription applies to only one of four similar works believed to depict the same individual Contents 1 Description 2 Original use 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingDescription editThe bronze head was made using the lost wax casting technique in the early sixteenth century 1 It is a very realistic representation of a young woman from the Benin court who wears a high pointed ukpe okhue crown of lattice shaped red coral beads The hairstyle is referred to as a parrot s beak hairstyle and was only allowed to be worn by the Iyoba and the major war chief 5 The eyes and two bands between them are inset with iron These reflect the oral tale of how Idia came to be the Iyoba the tale states that an oracle had told Idia to place medicine on two incisions above her eyes in order to prevent the Oba Ozolua from picking her for his wife Oba Ozolua then went on to defeat the oracle s premonitions and Idia became the mother of Oba Esigie 5 Above each eyebrow are engraved four cicatrices The sophisticated technique and design of the four heads suggest that they were made in the early sixteenth century commissioned by Idia s son Oba Esigie and created by the imperial guild of brass casters that was founded by the previous Oba Oba Ogolua 6 The heads were designed to honour her military achievements and ceremonial power 7 nbsp The different head in BerlinOriginal use editQueen Idia played an instrumental role in her son s successful military campaigns against neighbouring tribes and factions After her death Oba Esigie ordered dedicatory heads of the queen to be made to be placed in front of altars or in the Queen Mother s palace The heads were designed to honour her military achievements and ceremonial power The British Museum head was presented to the museum by Sir William Ingram in 1897 See also editBenin bronzes Benin ivory mask Bronze Head from IfeReferences edit a b commemorative head British Museum The British Museum Retrieved 24 May 2021 Accession number 27 11 99 8 Kingdon Zachary 2019 Ethnographic collecting and African agency in early colonial West Africa a study of trans imperial cultural flows New York p 132 ISBN 978 1 5013 3793 2 OCLC 1062395773 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Picture of Lagos head Archived 2 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Memorial head of a queen mother Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Archived from the original on 14 June 2017 a b Africa arts and cultures John Mack British Museum New York 2000 ISBN 0 19 521727 6 OCLC 48015137 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link CS1 maint others link Africa arts and cultures John Mack British Museum New York 2000 ISBN 0 19 521727 6 OCLC 48015137 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link CS1 maint others link Africa arts and cultures John Mack British Museum New York 2000 ISBN 0 19 521727 6 OCLC 48015137 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link CS1 maint others link Further reading editMack John ed Africa Arts and Cultures London 2005 Barley Nigel The Art of Benin London The British Museum Press 2010 Ben Amos P Girshick The Art of Benin London The British Museum Press 1995 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bronze Head of Queen Idia amp oldid 1182029828, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
