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This is the rating and price for Benin Figure, 1978



Description : West Africa, southern Nigeria, Benin Kingdom, Edo peoples, ca. 19th century CE. A fabulous brass sculpture of a standing figure, likely a former king or oba, playing a lengthy, side-blow horn known as an akohen. Capped by a dotted helmet, the fascinating figure stands barefoot wearing an elaborate layered kilt, a lattice-incised chest piece, and several necklaces. He gazes forth from wide eyes with delineated pupils above a naturalistic nose and full lips. Size: 2.5 W x 5.4 H (6.4 cm x 13.7 cm), 7.4 H (18.8 cm) on included custom stand. Though the metal composition of this piece is consistent with that of brass, examples like this have traditionally been referred to as bronzes. Joseph Nevadomsky and Natalie Lawson explain in The Dating Game: The Scientific Analysis of Benin Copper-Alloy Art-From TL to 21Pb that That problem is complex. Keep the following in mind. First is that Benin cast artifacts are typically called Benin bronzes but they are now referred to as brass, the composition of a sample of objects at the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C., ranged 'from 64 to 94% copper, 0 to 7% tin, 1 to 17% lead, and 0 to 16% zinc' as well as 'small quantities of arsenic, silver, antimony, and nickel' with iron at 0.4 to 5% Schrenk [1] Copper alloy is the correct designation, but Benin 'bronze' became equated with royal art from Europe early on and stuck for a century at least while brass is now commonly used by art historians. (Joseph Nevadomsky, Natalie Lawson. The Dating Game: The Scientific Analysis of Benin Copper-Alloy Art-From TL to 21Pb. Open Access J Arch & Anthropol. 1(5): 2019. OAJAA.MS.ID.000525.) Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1978.412.310, British Museum, Af1949,46.156, and Brooklyn Museum, 55.87. Provenance: private Jersey City, New Jersey, USA collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #169904
Price: 326.25 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 500 USD-750 USD It's free to register now to view!

About the lot N° 114B
Title : Benin Figure, Period : 1978
Condition report : Expected nicks and abrasions throughout with some light flaking to surface. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressive preservation of detail and nice patina.
Artemis Gallery, auctioneer, Louisville, US It's free to register now to view!
Sale title : Ancient & Ethnographic Art Through The Ages
Sale date : 03 Mar 2022 It's free to register now to view!
Sale Reference : Live Sale

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