Head of Queen Mother Iyoba
Bini O Edo (Benin) · Nigeria
Reference: BRN-21
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- Height
- 38 cm
- Material
- Bronze
Representation of a queen mother iyoba head on a pedestal. The Oba Esigie instituted the title of "kingdom mother" in honor of his mother Idia and…
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Full original description
Representation of a queen mother iyoba head on a pedestal. The Oba Esigie instituted the title of "kingdom mother" in honor of his mother Idia and created the custom of melting a reproduction of his head in bronze. These heads, imitating the queen mother's attire, are touched with a kind of capirote, embroidered with semiprecious stones and interlaced corals, known as "chicken pico", still used by high-ranking women. The queen's forehead is crossed by ritual scarifications.
Further technical information
- Width
- 12 cm
- Attributed period
- First third century XX
- Recorded weight
- 3 g
Details transcribed from the original catalogue; they are not a recent physical inspection.
Country on the map
Nigeria. The country associated with the catalog is shown, not the current location of the piece.
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Attributions, dates and accounts come from the preserved catalogue. They do not constitute certification of authenticity or provenance. An object’s presence on this website does not mean it is available for sale.
