Created in the early sixteenth century for one of Benin’s greatest leaders (Oba or King), Esigie, in honor of his mother Idia, the Pendant mask is among the most celebrated masterpieces of African art. This ivory mask is a sensitive and idealized portrait with delicately modeled features, bearing carved scarification marks on the forehead and bands of coral beads seen beneath the chin. Ivory was it one of a pair of nearly identical works, with its counterpart being in the British Museum in London. Treated as a luxury good, ivory holds a great material and symbolic value in the Benin culture. The ivory symbolizes purity, wealth and fertility.
#mask #pendantmask #pendant #History #museum #historical #vintage #ancient #britishmuseum #lifelonglearner #lifelonglearners #art #culture #handcraft #creativity
0
0