Ben Osawe (Nigerian, 1931-2007) Totem
Provenance : Osawe was born into a family of respected sculptors and craftsmen. He learned his trade from his father, who was court artist for the king of Benin, Oba Eweka II. Osawe moved to London to study at the School of Graphic Art (1956-59) and the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts (1960-65). In 1965, he was selected to represent Nigeria at the Commonwealth Festival in Glasgow. He returned to Nigeria in 1966 before moving to Benin City in 1979, where he continued to sculpt until his death in 2007. Over the course of his career, Osawe showed himself to be a master of many media including cement, clay and metal. However, it was with wood that he felt most at home.
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Condition_report : Generally in very good condition. There are no visible breaks or repairs. There are a handful of old marks and scratches, which is consistent with a wooden sculpture of this date. There is a vertical crack running along the lower curve of the sculpture's reverse - this is a natural fissure in the wood rather than a break. There is another crack to the wooden base running from the 'A' of 'OSAWE' to the centre of the base. Again this is a natural fissure in the wood.
