En bronzeskulptur - Fon - Benin (Ingen mindstepris)

Fon Bronze Figurine, Collected in Cotonou, Benin, bronze with a light patina; southern Benin, presumably Fon cultural sphere. Incl stand.

This bronze figurine belongs to the cultural milieu of the Fon people of southern Benin, whose courtly and religious art traditions are closely linked to the historical Kingdom of Dahomey. Metalwork held a prominent position within this society, serving both representative and cultic functions. The figurine, collected in Cotonou, combines elements of courtly iconography with a distinctly expressive formal language.

The seated figure gazes upwards and leans slightly back, creating a strong dynamic tension. The angled arms and disproportionately large hands with inward-pointing thumbs lend the figurine a gestural intensity that may allude to ritual communication or spiritual authority. The face is dominated by prominent eyebrows that flow seamlessly into an angular nose. Prominent eyes and the linearly modeled mouth enhance the expressive presence, while a suggested pointed beard further accentuates the upward, forward-directed movement.

The perforated helmet crest and the chain depicted on the chest allude to status and ornamental attributes of courtly elites. The ornamentally decorated, calf-length skirt connects the figure to West African representations of ceremonial dignitaries. The composition is stabilized by the stool, whose construction - with parallel legs and a fixed base - appears both functional and sculptural. A glossy patina, abrasion, and signs of aging testify to prolonged use and lend the work an impressive material depth.

Literature (selection)
Jaenicke-Njoya archive CAB49616
Suzanne Preston Blier: African Vodun: Art, Psychology, and Power. Chicago 1995.
Edna G. Bay: Wives of the Leopard. Charlottesville 1998.
Jacques Kerchache et al.: L’Art Africain. Paris 1988.
Robert Farris Thompson: Flash of the Spirit. New York 1983.

This description is made with AI. Despite careful individual review, the use of Artificial Intelligence may result in errors or inaccuracies in the description.