Date: Circa early to mid 20th century
Geography: Nigeria, West Africa
Dimensions: 36cm H 12cm W x 16cm D
Weight: 2.888kg
Material: bronze
Condition: is good see photos
This hand-cast bronze head is a 20th-century work in the style of the celebrated Ife heads of the Yoruba people of Nigeria. It depicts a regal woman, traditionally identified as a queen, wearing a tall beaded crown with a crested ornament, and is cast with a rich, dark patina.
The head follows the naturalistic style for which Ife art is famous, with calm, finely balanced features and a serene, composed expression. Delicate vertical lines run across the face, representing the striations seen on the original Ife heads, often interpreted as facial scarification, a practice once associated with identity and status in Yoruba society.
The original Ife bronzes were made in the city of Ife, the spiritual heartland of the Yoruba, between around the 12th and 15th centuries. When a group of these heads was uncovered in Ife in 1938, their remarkable naturalism and technical skill transformed the world’s understanding of African art and showed the sophistication of West African metal casting. The Ife heads remain powerful symbols of Yoruba cultural heritage, and their style has inspired Nigerian bronze casters ever since.
As with all our vintage pieces, this head is one of a kind, and natural variations in patina, casting texture and minor surface wear should be expected as part of its character. Dimensions and weight are approximate.
Date: Circa early to mid 20th century
Geography: Nigeria, West Africa
Dimensions: 36cm H 12cm W x 16cm D
Weight: 2.888kg
Material: bronze
Condition: is good see photos
This hand-cast bronze head is a 20th-century work in the style of the celebrated Ife heads of the Yoruba people of Nigeria. It depicts a regal woman, traditionally identified as a queen, wearing a tall beaded crown with a crested ornament, and is cast with a rich, dark patina.
The head follows the naturalistic style for which Ife art is famous, with calm, finely balanced features and a serene, composed expression. Delicate vertical lines run across the face, representing the striations seen on the original Ife heads, often interpreted as facial scarification, a practice once associated with identity and status in Yoruba society.
The original Ife bronzes were made in the city of Ife, the spiritual heartland of the Yoruba, between around the 12th and 15th centuries. When a group of these heads was uncovered in Ife in 1938, their remarkable naturalism and technical skill transformed the world’s understanding of African art and showed the sophistication of West African metal casting. The Ife heads remain powerful symbols of Yoruba cultural heritage, and their style has inspired Nigerian bronze casters ever since.
As with all our vintage pieces, this head is one of a kind, and natural variations in patina, casting texture and minor surface wear should be expected as part of its character. Dimensions and weight are approximate.
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