Ancient Benin (Unknown)

Ancient Benin sculpture encompasses several thousand metal plaques and figures produced by Edo artists in the Kingdom of Benin (present-day Nigeria) from the 14th through 18th centuries. Commonly called "Benin Bronzes," the works are actually made from brass using the lost-wax casting method. They decorated the royal palace of the Obas (divine kings) and served as commemorative art for ancestral altars.

The most famous forms include elaborate altar heads, historical plaques depicting kingdom events, and figurative sculptures portraying the Oba, warriors, and court officials. The technical sophistication of Benin casting challenged European assumptions about African art when the works first reached Western audiences in the late 19th century. Our collection includes 4 works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.