ife - Benin (No reserve price)

Leopard Royal - Bini Edo - Benin - Benin Bronzes
The Kingdom of Benin, south of present-day Nigeria, is renowned for its magnificent bronzes and ivory sculptures.
These works constitute one of humanity's greatest treasures and rank among the masterpieces in museums around the world.
The Oba's palace, where the sumptuous royal shrines were located, was regarded as the center of the capital and the kingdom.
The art of Benin is, without doubt, royal art.
Its organization was the work of one of the three ruling orders, the Iwebo (the other two being Iweguae and Ibiwe).
This order was responsible for the king's regalia and personal effects.
Many guilds of artisans were affiliated with this order. They worked primarily for the king and could not undertake commissions for other clients without royal authorization.
Bronze founders, ivory sculptors, weavers, tailors, and leather artisans are some of the guilds led by the Iwebo.
The bronze leopards were meant to decorate the altars and usually came in pairs.
As they were used during libations and purification sacrifices, they were often given a shape resembling an aquamanile.
In the past, leopards were among the palace's domestic animals. They were easy to tame and could even be kept on a leash.
On very great celebrations, the Oba sacrificed a leopard—a custom that was observed until the early 20th century, during the Igue festival.