Item.

Fine, oxidated  and charming Bronze head  depiction of Queen Idia of Benin. She was the mother of Esigie who reigned as the Oba of Benin from the year 1504 to 1550.

The current King of Benin is Ewuare II who was crowned the Oba of Benin on 20 October 2016.

Origin.

Edo People of Nigeria.

Use.

This type of bronze busts are portrait representation of royalty and notable people,  in ancient Benin society, that were presented as valuable gifts to dignitaries and important people.

Queen Idia  was the mother of Esigie, the Oba of Benin, who ruled the Kingdom of Benin from. 1504 to 1555.

Queen Idia was instrumental in securing the title of Oba for her son Esigie following the death of his father Oba Ozolua.

A grateful Esigie introduced the title of "Iyoba' ,I.e Queen mother, for Idia. The much reverered Queen is therefore venerated through  several commissions of Bronze heads representing her image.

Description.

A fine and well-crafted bronze head  of Benin Queen Idia mounted on a decorative base. The Queen is sculpted with the usual elaborate headgear and serene expression.

The four raised marks above each eye, which are called ikharo, are believed to represent scarification marks used then. Men would have three Ikharo above each eye while women and foreigners have four as Idia does.

Good attention to details throughout. Fine form, balance and symmetry overall. Some minor metal degradation and thinning frome age and wear (see picrures)

The base of the bronze head feature fish motifs to all sides.

Genuinely old and oxidised patina throughout. Bust believed to be a several decades old from provenance information available to us.

Please note that this Queen Idia Benin bronze is genuine Benin  artisan work obtained from their original home of creation and use.

As with all my bronze offerings,  this is a personal find from Edo State of Nigeria which is the home of the Ancient Benin Empire that produced the many examples of beautiful Benin bronze collected worldwide today. 

Measurement.

45cm high x 12cm wide x 15cm deep.

Postage information.

Please note we are a UK-based seller who trade internationally and mainly by obtaining tribal artifacts directly in their area of creation and use as we rate authenticity higher than anything else per tribal art.

We sometime therefore send items, especially big items, directly from where they were field-collected as this saves duplication of cost and effort for us.

Please allow at least two weeks for delivery after payment is made. Thank you...