Lot 114
  • 114

A Superb Benin Terracotta Head, Nigeria

Estimate
60,000 - 90,000 USD
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Description

rising from a flaring neck, wearing a multistranded necklace of coral beads, the male head of delicate proportions and wearing a closely cropped overlaying coiffure, a hollow core evident at the crown; fine aged varied patina with traces of red brown pigment. 

Provenance

Aaron and Joyce Furman, New York, by 1961

Exhibited

Detroit, Detroit Institute of Arts, African Terra Cottas South of the Sahara, November 22, 1972 - January 31, 1973

Literature

Furman Gallery (ed.), Masterworks of African Art - October 18, 1961, New York, 1961, cover, cat. 27
Aaron Furman Gallery (advertisement), African Arts, Spring 1969, vol. II, no. 3, p. 7
Willis F. Woods, African Terra Cottas South of the Sahara, Detroit, 1972, unpaginated, cat. 50 (unillustrated)
Aaron Furman Gallery (advertisement), African Arts, April 1978, vol. XI, no. 3, p. 73

Condition

exceptional condition overall for an object of this type and age; losses to rim of base, minor losses to both lids of the right eye, as well as to the right ear; front of the coiffure and face worn consistent with longtime of use and ceremonial practice; fine aged varied patina with traces of red and brown.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

Within the enormous corpus of Benin art, terracotta human heads form a rare and distinct group. According to oral tradition, terracotta heads were placed on the altars of the paternal ancestors of the first obas (kings) of Benin, the Ogiso dynasty, who probably ruled as early as before 1300 (Ben Amos 1980: text to fig. 12). In the ancient city of Benin they were also placed on altars in the quarter of Benin known as Idunmwum Ivbioto, the sons of the soil, and in Idunmwum Ogiefo, the quarter of the ward guild responsible for purifying the earth after taboos had been violated (ibid.: 15).

Most Benin terracotta heads display a tight fitting multi-stranded bead collar around the neck and a coiffure of overlapping ringlets, both of which are characteristics of 'type 1' brass heads according to the typology established by Dark (1975: 32-33); for an example of a 'type 1' brass head see von Luschan (1919: pl. 56, figs. A and C). However, only few terracotta heads are of equal quality to the present lot. For other heads of comparable quality see one in the National Museum of Nigeria, Lagos (Eyo 1977: 151), another formerly in the collection of Roland de Montaigu, Paris (Sotheby's, New York, May 12, 2005, lot 65) and the often published fragment of a head in the collection of Dan and Marian Malcolm, New Jersey (Bastin 1984: 42, fig. 25).