Mask - Benin - Leopard Head, Benin (No reserve price)
05
days
15
hours
03
minutes
07
seconds
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 136750 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Bronze leopard head from Benin, circa 1950–1960, 21 cm high and 14 cm wide, weighing 5 kg, in good condition with some wear and age-related stains, sold without a stand.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
African art from Benin.
This zoomorphic head refers to the rich symbolism attached to the leopard, king of the bush.
Exclusively made in bronze, this object also embodies the qualities that the Oba must possess.
In the Kingdom of Benin, the killing of the king of animals associated with legends, the leopard, was the prerogative of the chief, the Oba.
The feline could then serve as an offering for the cult of the chief's head.
Sometimes tamed by various royal guilds, it accompanied the chief on his travels.
The Oba, named "child of the house leopard", could also present the teeth or the skin to commanders whose loyalty was evident.
Thus, Benin's rich iconography is full of references to this animal.
Lost-wax casting technique.
African art from Benin.
This zoomorphic head refers to the rich symbolism attached to the leopard, king of the bush.
Exclusively made in bronze, this object also embodies the qualities that the Oba must possess.
In the Kingdom of Benin, the killing of the king of animals associated with legends, the leopard, was the prerogative of the chief, the Oba.
The feline could then serve as an offering for the cult of the chief's head.
Sometimes tamed by various royal guilds, it accompanied the chief on his travels.
The Oba, named "child of the house leopard", could also present the teeth or the skin to commanders whose loyalty was evident.
Thus, Benin's rich iconography is full of references to this animal.
Lost-wax casting technique.
Details
Era
1900-2000
Number of objects
1
Material
Bronze
Country of origin
Benin
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
Height
21 cm
Width
14 cm
Sold with stand
No
Weight
5 kg
Estimated period
1950-1960
Title additional information
Leopard Head, Benin
Sold by
