Item.

Iconic And Very Rare Tsoede "Bowman" Bronze Figure. Exclusive to Yemisi Gallery. 108cm tall. Nigeria. This item is one in a group of around nine  bronze creations that were  called the Tsoede Bronzes, 

The Tsoede bronzes are a group of nine bronze sculptures that had for a long time been know to exist in two Villages inthe area around the River Niger, at Tada and on Jebba Island, all now in what is today Nigeria in West Africa,

Three of the cultural objects or works of art, in the Tsoede group of nine, are the largest cast bronze and copper works from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Additionally, Tsoede figures are said to be the most monumental bronzes in Black Africa to include a creation called  the "seated Tada figure", described today as the most important naturalistic sculpture in Black Africa. 

The Tsoede Bronzes   are referred as such because historical narratives say that they are the creations of Tsoede, a celebrated warrior and leader, credited with being the founder of the Nupe Kingdom.

He had taken a historical journey from Idah

Which is the capital of the Igala Kingdom which was a pre-colonial West African geographical region, in what is now the middle belt area of Nigeria.

Tsoede fled Idah after discovering that his brothers planned to kill him because he was the favourite to replace his father, the King of the Igala empire, once the time for rulership of Igala to pass from the King to a qualified adult male successor.

As an accomplished warrior, leader and orator, Tsoede craved to build a Kingdom and it is believed this is what led him, after escaping Idah, to seek to return to the homeland of his mother to unite the Nupe people, previously disorganised and lacking geographical and societal cohesion, into an independent, purposeful and powerful group with their own organised empire.

It is believed that Tsoede travelled in a bronze canoe with these nine bronze sculptures he created and then distributed in a few locations on his way to founding the Nupe Kingdom believed to date from the sixteenth century. Tsoede naturally became the first King of "Etsu" of the Nupe people.

This Tsoede bronze Bowman figure is one of the iconic nine creations. It is believed to have been placed on Jebba Island by Tsoede and , along with a female nude figure, is one of of two creations by Tsoede known today as the Jebba Gara figures..

It depicts an archer warrior believed to be Tsoede himself in attire he wore for engaging in conflict and battle.

Origin.

The Nupe people  of the middle belt and Northern region of Nigeria.

Description.

An excellent representation of one of the most most iconic bronze work  ever from Africa. Figure represents a Warrior Bowman or Archer in battle or hunting clothes.

The Bowman wears a Helmet with a crest that shows a stylized Bird with a larger beak.  The Bowman figure has large and protruding eyes with a face bearing scarification marks that may be the unique tribal marks many primitive ethnic groups used to identify their members and children in olden days.

The Bowman wears a large chain collar around his neck. He has a dagger in the left breat area of his outfit and carries a quiver of arrows on his back shown on the pictures. It was historically one of the tallest bronze figures in Black Africa at the time of it's creation several centuries ago.

Patination is oxidised with age. Attention to detailing is impressive with figure displaying  form, balance and symmetry that is commendable.

The quality and finesse of this Tsoede Bowman or Archer figure, is rare to come across today and testimony to our ability to find  the finest authentic Benin bronzes still available anywhere because of our presence on the ground in the home of creation, ethnographic significance and use of these fascinating treasures.

I am fairly confident no other listing for this sort of item exists anywhere currently as a mark of the incredible rarity and exclusivity of the Tsoede Bronzes that consist of only nine figures.

Overall, a beautiful  and highly significant collector item offered at the best price possible for genuine and rare artifact of this size and scale. It will rise in value with time making it a wise investment financially also. The best available anywhere.

Please note that this is an authentic Nupe bronze creation field-collected by Yemisi Gallery around what is described the lower Niger region of Nigeria today.

We strictly only sell authentic artifacts obtained from their original place of creation and use that are 100% always crafted by artisans local to the tradition and origin of these fine treasures.

Use.

The Tsoede bronzes were believed to have been created by Tsoede who was a charismatic leader and warrior credited with unfying the Nupe people as a precursor to founding the Nupe Kingdom.

Expert believe the nine creations that form the Tsoede bronzes are representations of thoughts and ideologies Tsoede identified with though I am not aware any formal and  documented explanation of their specific meaning was provided by Tsoede till he died on a military expedition  around the end of the 16th century.

The Tsoeded bronzes are unique because they have never been taken out of Africa to be domiciled abroad like many bronzes of different ethic groups.

They used  to be displayed, from their time of creation centuries ago, across Nupe land.

The Tsoede bronzes would all be worshipped as deities by Nupe people, to include this nude female figure believed to have spiritual power,  for a long time before they were finally taken to the Nigerian national museum in Lagos where I believe they remain on display till today.

Measurement.

109cm high x 45cm wide x 49cm deep.

Weight.

31kg approx.

Postage information.

This item is big and very heavy and will require careful packaging to prevent damage. Extra cushioning packaging materials is required.

That, along with size and weight of the item, reflects on the postage cost we have actually subsidised to bring down overall cost of owning this superb creation.

Delivery 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 and heavy items such as this example, directly from where they were field-collected as this saves duplication of cost and effort for us. We always use UPS trackable service.

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