A Magnificent and Highly Important Benin Head of an Oba, Nigeria, circa 1575-1625 cast, the hollowed form rising from a cylindrical neck encircled by 22 rows of coral beads, the face with delicately modeled lips, small flaring nose and wide oval eyes inset with iron for the pupils, three raised scarification lines above the eyes and a fourth larger rectangular line inset in iron above the inner corner of each eye (ikao), framed by flat diminutive ears and wearing an elaborate headdress with coral beads in a crisscross pattern with additional groups of five pod shaped beads attached to the surface, and eleven strands of beads at each side, two braids behind the left and one braid behind the right ear, each terminating in a single coral bead; '1114' in white pigment on reverse of head; mounted on rotating Inagaki base; exceptionally fine, varied gold brown patina with traces of red pigment. Height 9 1/4 in. 23.5 cm
A Magnificent and Highly Important Benin Head of an Oba, Nigeria, circa 1575-1625 cast, the hollowed form rising from a cylindrical neck encircled by 22 rows of coral beads, the face with delicately modeled lips, small flaring nose and wide oval eyes inset with iron for the pupils, three raised scarification lines above the eyes and a fourth larger rectangular line inset in iron above the inner corner of each eye (ikao), framed by flat diminutive ears and wearing an elaborate headdress with coral beads in a crisscross pattern with additional groups of five pod shaped beads attached to the surface, and eleven strands of beads at each side, two braids behind the left and one braid behind the right ear, each terminating in a single coral bead; '1114' in white pigment on reverse of head; mounted on rotating Inagaki base; exceptionally fine, varied gold brown patina with traces of red pigment. Height 9 1/4 in. 23.5 cm
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
