New arrival !!!!
Item.
Outstanding and truly exceptional Plaque depicting three "Emada" figures.
This is, by far, one one the biggest, most exclusive and best plaque to be found anywhere worldwide today..
This plaque is part of what is today described as the Benin Bronzes.
The Benin Bronzes are a group of more than a thousand metal plaques and sculptures that decorated the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin in what is now the Midwest area of Nigeria.
Collectively, the Benin bronze objects form the best-known examples of Benin art and were created from the thirteenth century onwards by artists of the Edo people of Nigeria.
Origin.
Edo People of Nigeria.
Description.
Stunning and highly detailed example of a Benin bronze plaque showing three "Emada" figures who have the important role of being sword bearers to Obas of Benin.
As with all our Benin bronzes,due to their origin as authentic examples, detailing is stunning and finely depicted.
At 58cm tall, and around 17kg weight, this plaque is one of the biggest, most prominent and visually appealing to be found for sale today anywhere.
The plaque shows three Emada figures, sword bearers to Oba of Benin, standing upright, with hands to their sides, attentively as if in presence of the Oba of Benin.
They wear tiered coiffure with side extensions headdresses terminating with coral beads adornment.
Around their neck area is the high beaded choker, similar to that working by the Oba of Benin, running from lower throat are to the area or the chin directly under the lower lip. Arms, torsos and legs of all Emadas show intricate and patterned etchings believed to be scarification marks unique to Emadas at the time.
The Emadas, in servitude of the King, are naked as tradition demanded then.
Benin artists used height and size scale, where the most important person is largest, to indicate hierarchy of importance .
In this case, the three Emadas being od equal height indicate they are of similar social status and hierarchical importance.
Base plate shows the characteristic River flower petal motif and pin dots indentations that are a common theme with many Benin bronze plaques.
Some areas of minor metal degradation and thinning, that I have tried to show in the pictures, but a solid creation throughout in excellent collector condition. One of the absolute best to be found anywhere.
The quality and finesse of this plaque 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.
This plaque is in an exclusive category of being perhaps one of the biggest and heaviest originally created several centuries ago.
Truly amazing and unique plaque you are unlikely to find a similar example of anywhere today.
Overall, a beautiful, museum quality and significant collector item offered at the best price possible for genuine Benin artifact of this size and scale. It will rise in value with time making it a wise investment financially also. A complement to any collection however prestigious such is.
Please note that this is an authentic Benin bronze creation field-collected by Yemisi Gallery in Edo State which is the current home of the ancient Benin empire.
We strictly only sell Benin bronze artifacts obtained from their original place of creation and use crafted by artisans of the famous Benin bronze casters guild.
This plaque is made with same traditional lost wax method and incredible skills as the first of the Benin bronzes created several hundred years ago. Thank you for looking.
Use.
These Benin Bronze plaques , and many other items made of Bronze, decorated the Royal palace and general court of the Benin Kingdom. They were crafted by very skilled artisan , masterful at working with metal, as gifts to the Oba of Benin and his many Chiefs and royal affiliates.
Plaques tell stories about life around the King of Benin, his monarchy and court. They may depict valiant Warriors, attendant figures, Court musicians or any people or theme relevant during the reign of respective Obas of Benin.
In this case, the plaque depicts three "Emada" figures. Emadas are sword-bearers of the Kings of Benin whose duties included carrying the ceremonial sword, the Eben, and other gifts for sacrifices during coronation ceremonies to the "Ohenso".
The Ohenso is the powerful and revered Priest of the Ogiso Altar Shrine Obas of Benin worshipped at and paid homage to.
The Ogiso shrine deifies Ogiso who is believed to be the "King from the Sky" who was first ruler of Benin who reigned, with other Ogisos successors, preceding the much better-documented era of the reign of Obas of Benin that is still in place till today.
Measurement.
58cm high x 50cm wide x 10cm deep.
Weight.
17kg approx.
Why buy Benin bronze from Yemisi Gallery?
The ancient Benin Kingdom is famous for inspiring the production of the Benin Bronzes several centuries ago.
The Benin bronzes were produced exclusively for commemoratively exalting the Oba of Benin. They therefore adorned his palace and royal Courts.
In 1897, the Benin Kingdom fell under attack from a British Punitive expedition so-called because it was dispatched to punish the Oba of Benin after an earlier British expedition had been ambushed.
The punitive expedition precipitated the end of the Benin Kingdom eventually leading it to be absorbed into colonial Nigeria.
The Benin bronzes numbering hundreds , and other treasures from the palace and court of the Oba of Benin, were looted and taken outside African.
The Oba of Benin at the time, Ovonramwen, would be sent into exile where he would die in 1914.
His son, Eweka II, ascended the throne in 1914 the year of his father's death. At the time Eweka II ascended the throne, brass and bronze casting had already become an established tourist industry.
Oba Eweka II did a lot to revive the art of casting. He re-established the shrines of his father.
He reconvened a new guild of Benin bronze casters to make new ritualistic objects and reproduction of the Benin bronzes that had adorned the palaces of his ancestors.
In 1916, a shed was built near the palace for artists and members of the new Benin bronze casters guild to make and sell their works.
This was effectively a signal that anyone interested could purchase Bronze work produced post-punitive expedition of 1897.
At Yemisi Gallery we work exclusively with members of the Benin bronze casters guild, created by Oba Eweka II, and their offsprings they have passed on the casting skills to, for our legal purchase of authentic Benin bronze.
We are then able to offer them for sale to collectors worldwide at excellent prices for genuine Benin Bronzes created by artists possessing the finest Benin bronze casting skills till today
It is why we have the most exclusive and best Benin bronzes on ebay.
Postage information.
This item, because of size and weight, will be will be packaged with extra protective cushioning material to ensure it arrives undamaged. Considerable size and weight of item is reflected in the postage charge we have subsidized to lessen cost for buyer.
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..