
Edo refers to the artistic tradition of the Kingdom of Benin (in present-day southern Nigeria), which produced some of the most technically accomplished bronze and brass sculptures in African art history. The Benin Kingdom flourished from the 13th century onward, and its court artists cast elaborate bronze plaques, heads, and figures using the lost-wax technique.
The Benin Bronzes, looted by British forces during the 1897 punitive expedition, are among the most debated objects in museum collections worldwide. Thousands of pieces were dispersed to museums in London, Berlin, New York, and elsewhere. Nigeria has been actively seeking their return, and several institutions have begun repatriating works. The plaques originally decorated the pillars of the Oba's palace in Benin City.
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