What is the cultural significance of the Benin Queen Mother pendant mask?
What is the cultural significance of the Benin Queen Mother pendant mask?
The pendant mask is believed to have been produced in the early sixteenth century for the King or ObaEsigie, the king of Benin, to honor his mother, Idia. The oba may have worn it at rites commemorating his mother, although today such pendants are worn at annual ceremonies of spiritual renewal and purification.
What does the Benin mask represent?
The mask is said to represent Idia, mother of Oba Esigie who ruled in the sixteenth century. The top of the hip mask is decorated with heads representing the Portuguese, symbolizing Benin’s alliance with and control over Europeans.
What is the most famous Benin mask?
The Benin ivory mask is a miniature sculptural portrait in ivory of Idia, the first Iyoba (Queen Mother) of the 16th century Benin Empire, taking the form of a traditional African mask. The masks were looted by the British from the palace of the Oba of Benin in the Benin Expedition of 1897.
Who is the artist of the Queen Mother pendant mask?
By Dr. Christa Clarke, for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. This pendant mask was created in the early sixteenth century for an Oba named Esigie, in honor of his mother Idia.
How much is the Benin mask worth?
IN London on February 17, Sotheby’s will sell a rediscovered 16th century Benin ivory mask – and five other rare works from the Kingdom of Benin in Nigeria – consigned by the family of a key participant in the controversial Punitive Expedition. The mask alone is estimated at £3.5m-4.5m.
Who wore the Benin mask?
Art historians believe she is Queen Idia, the mother of Oba (King) Esigie, who ruled the kingdom of Benin in Nigeria over five hundred years ago. Oba Esigie wore this mask around his neck during ceremonies to honor his mother, and show her as a powerful leader and trusted adviser.
Who is the current king of Benin?
Ewuare II
Ewuare II (born October 20, 1953) was crowned the Oba of Benin on 20 October 2016. He is the 40th Oba, a title created for the Head of State (Emperor) of the Benin Empire at some time between 1180 and 1300.
How much are Benin bronzes worth?
The 20th century brought better documentation alongside a swell of interest in “tribal art.” Auction prices for Benin Bronzes started around GBP 5,500 in the 1950s (around USD 209,000 today). Those figures climbed steadily through the 20th century. In 2007, Sotheby’s sold a Benin head sculpture for $4.7 million.
Who is the Queen Mother of Nigeria?
Queen Mother/Iy’oba Idia was a warrior queen who led many armies into battle. She aided her son, King/Oba Esigie (r. 1504-50), on his military campaigns and was known locally as “the only woman who went to war.” Iy’oba Idia was therefore highly revered by her son and his people.
Did Yoruba come from Benin?
The two entities have no historical connection whatsoever. The Yoruba kingdoms of Benin and Ife sprang up between the 11th and 12th centuries. The present-day Benin monarch declared his ancestry from Oranmiyan through Ekaladerhan and direct to the Ogiso dynasty.
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