Antique & Vintage furniture Wimbledon 07850 890032

We are delighted to offer for auction this stunning original circa 1900-1920 African Benin bronze cat head with additional full cat back handle 

As you can see in the pictures I have another piece which is listed under my other items, 

The Benin Bronzes are a group of more than a thousand commemorative metal plaques and sculptures that decorated the royal palace of the Benin Kingdom in modern-day Nigeria.[a] Collectively, the plaques form the best known examples of Benin art, created by the Edo people from the thirteenth century, which also included other sculptures in brass or bronze, including some famous portrait heads and smaller pieces.

In 1897, most of the plaques and other objects were removed by the British during a punitive expedition to the area as imperial control was being consolidated in Southern Nigeria.

Two hundred of the pieces were taken to the British Museum in London, while the rest were purchased by other European museums. Today, a large number are held by the British Museum

Other notable collections are in Germany and the United States. The Benin Bronzes led to a greater appreciation in Europe of African culture and art. Initially and naively, it appeared incredible to the discoverers that people "supposedly so primitive and savage" were responsible for such highly developed objects

Some even concluded that Benin knowledge of metallurgy came from the Portuguese traders who were in contact with Benin in the early modern period.

Today, it is clear that the bronzes were made in Benin from an indigenous culture. Many of these dramatic sculptures date to the thirteenth century, centuries before contact with Portuguese traders, and a large part of the collection dates to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. It is believed that two "golden ages" in Benin metal workmanship occurred during the reigns of Esigie (fl. 1550) and of Eresoyen(1735-50), when their workmanship achieved its highest qualities.

While the collection is known as the Benin Bronzes, like most West African "bronzes" the pieces are mostly made of brass of variable composition. There are also pieces made of mixtures of bronze and brass, of wood, of ceramic, elephant tusk, among other materials. The metal pieces were made using lost-wax casting and are considered among the best sculptures made using this technique

This piece is in lovely vintage condition, the patina to the bronze is stunning as is the cast detailing

Dimensions

Height:- 26cm

Width:-  41cm

Depth:-  21cm

 

Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask

 

Any questions please feel free to ask before you bid

ABOUT US

Antique and Furniture LTD is a privately owned family ran business out of Wimbledon SW19, we have four large storage warehouse’s, if you have any questions please call or text James on 07850 890032

PAYMENTS

We accept payment via card at the warehouse on the day of collection, paypay or bacs prior to collection

We would kindly ask that all items are paid for within 48 hours and collected within 7 working days, we can hold all paid items for 14 days free of charge, there after there is a very small storage fee

CONDITION

Please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the description around condition

Please also ask any questions before you bid and not after, all of our items are sold as seen and as listed