Iyoba Memorial Head - Benin - Nigeria

Benin / Edo – large bronze bust of a Queen Mother (Iyoba) – Nigeria – approx. 50 cm / 6 kg

Large figurative bronze bust from Nigeria in the artistic tradition of the Benin Kingdom, depicting a female courtly figure or Queen Mother (Iyoba).

The bust is unusually large and heavily crafted: about 50 cm high with a weight of about 6 kg. It was produced using the lost-wax casting process as a hollow casting.

Especially striking is the very high, cone-shaped headdress with finely worked geometric and spiral ornaments. The face features large almond-shaped eyes, a long nose, and a distinctly modeled mouth. Long ornamental strands extend from the headdress down over the shoulders. Multilayer neck jewelry, chest adornment, and numerous three-dimensional as well as incised details emphasize the ceremonial character of the representation.

The surface shows a pronounced irregular brown to dark brown patina with greenish and gray oxidation areas, mineral deposits, and clear signs of age and use. In some places there are older losses of material and damage. The underside is open, allowing good insight into the walling and the irregular inner casting surface.

The iconography aligns with well-known representations of Iyoba, the Queen Mother of the Benin Kingdom, whose tall coral headdress and extensive coral jewelry are among the characteristic signs of her courtly rank.

A precise dating cannot be securely determined without metallurgical analysis or further provenance research. The object is therefore offered as an older work in the Benin/Edo tradition;

Material: Copper alloy/Bronze
Technique: Lost-wax casting, hollow casting
Height: approx. 500 mm
Weight: approx. 6 kg
Origin region: Nigeria, Benin/Edo tradition
Depiction: Queen Mother / Iyoba
Condition: age-appropriate condition with pronounced patina, oxidations, deposits