BENIN HORSEMAN 1, NIGERIA

Photographs © Hamill Gallery

BENIN, BRONZE HORSEMEN 1, 24", $1200, SOLD

Old Benin bronzes are very rare. Despite its appearance, this is a 20th C. piece and was made to be sold.

The extraordinary bronzes of the Benin kingdom in what is now Nigeria exhibit a virtuosity and sophistication of style that has astonished the Western world since they were visited in the 15th Century. Their work was brought to Europe following a punitive expedition by the British in 1897, causing a great sensation. The people of Benin, called Bini, are descended from the Ife, also known for their remarkable bronzes. Almost all Benin art was created to honor the king , or Oba, who has reigned, with his ancestors, from the 15th century. Styles have changed over the years.

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