250403 - Large & Rare wooden Oba Memorial Head - Benin - Nigeria.

Large & Rare wooden Oba Memorial Head - Benin - Nigeria.
Size: 69 cm with wooden feather and 49 cm without the wooden feather.

This wooden Oba is dated from the first half of the 20th century and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

This striking green rare wooden head represents an Oba, one of the hereditary God-Kings of the Benin Empire. It also shows features associated with Iyobas - queen mothers - this statue possesses the features that are unmistakably male. The hair is in fact a diamond pattern running up to a set-up rim with 2 bands of pointed ears with white wide open eyes each with a small round opening. The nose has wide nostrils and pressed lips that are horizontally lined.

This king continues to survey his territory. His bulging eyes look out from under his arched brow. The power and wealth of this Oba are symbolized by his elaborate jewelry and adornments. In the characteristic Benin style, coral necklaces rise to his lips, symbolizing that he is showered with wealth. He wears a beaded crown that covers his head like a net, although only the front half is elaborate. A large feather, elegantly carved, rises from the left side of his crown. Although this bust represents a deceased Oba, according to Benin belief he was even more powerful in death than in life. This image would have been worshipped at a special altar, invoking his spirit who was believed to play an active role in the life of his lineage and the community as a whole.

The ritual of ancestor worship was ubiquitous in Benin, as represented by this head. The dead king continues to rule, now from an altar rather than a throne. The idolization of deceased relatives, in the case of royalty, also served to establish a continuity of rightful rule. The power and strength of this wooden Oba head continues to impress the viewer. Although it is now prized for its exquisite craftsmanship and coveted for its rarity, this head of an Oba continues to command a royal presence of power and dominance.

Benin art was designed to honor the achievements and/or memory of the Obas, the divine rulers of Benin politics. The bronze and copper working, the iron working and the carving in various materials, including this rare wooden head, were extremely refined and effective in Benin.