Brass & Wood Display King & Four AttendantsKingdom of DahomeyFon Museum Item.
A near identical piece as this one is on display at the Newfields Museum (Indianapolis Museum).
The link is here:
http://collection.imamuseum.org/artwork/28777
There is no doubt this is the same artist that made both pieces. While it exactly the same, the similarities are outstanding.
The dimensions are:
8" wide
6" deep
8.5" high to the too of the umbrella
The scene on this wooden base represents a royal procession. The central figure of a king is much larger than his attendants, possibly wives, because of his greater social importance. The king wears an elaborate robe, smokes a pipe and wears sandals unlike the other figures. The woman behind him holds a sun-sheltering umbrella, a status object in parts of Western and Northern Africa. She also carries the king's staff in the form of a fish.