Brass Heads
 

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Queen Mothers

   Beginnings: The
Legend of Idia

   Attendants

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altars
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       Altar of the Hand

Ritual: Gelede

 

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          The head is very important in Benin culture.  The head is thought to represent an individual's ability of realizing their own potential destiny. (5) The cast brass commemorative heads are identifiable as representative of the queen by the elaborate “chicken beaked” crown of coral on the head, and also the coral necklace chokers.  These heads change in style and structure over time.  The early commemorative heads have coral necklaces just around the neck and a more naturalistic rendering of the face, but the later commemorative heads have coral necklaces that extend to cover the chin up to the mouth and more disproportionate features.  Also, the older heads are lighter and have thinner walls, whereas the later heads have thicker walls and are heavier to accommodate the extra necks dedicated to the coral necklaces. (1)

http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=compass&_IXSR_=dt4&_IXSS_=_IXFPFX_%3dgraphical%252ffull%252f%26_IXNOMATCHES_%3dgraphical%252fno_matches%252ehtml%26%2524%2b%2528with%2bv2_searchable_index%2529%2bsort%3d%252e%26_IXDB_%3dcompass%26%257bUPPER%257d%253av2_free_text_tindex%3dqueen%2bmother%26_IXspage%3dsearch%26_IXsearchterm%3dqueen%252520mother&_IXFIRST_=15&_IXMAXHITS_=1&_IXSPFX_=graphical/full/&_IXsearchterm=queen%2520mother%26_IXspage%3dsearch&_IXimg=mm032896.jpg&submit-button=summary

Queen Mother Head, c.1500-50
Benin (Nigeria)
Brass, height 15 1/2" (39 cm)
British Museum, London

 

 

          This is an earlier brass commemorative head, which possesses more natural facial features as it has a smaller neck and proportionate facial features.  Its walls are cast thinner than those of the later brass heads.  This particular head is thought to be of Idia, the first Benin Queen Mother. (1)

 

 

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/09/sfg/ho_1977.187.36.htm

 

 

 

             This is a later Benin brass commemorative head, and like its predecessor it has the similar "chicken-beaked" coral crown and coral necklaces.  However, it has a thicker cast and unlike the earlier version, it has a longer neck and  is covered in these necklaces up to the mouth.  The facial features are also less naturalistic, with things like the eyes being emphasized. (1)

 

Head of a Queen Mother (Iyoba), 1750–1800
Nigeria; Edo peoples, court of Benin
Brass; H. 16 3/4 in. (42.54 cm)
Bequest of Alice K. Bache, 1977 (1977.187.36)

 

http://www.randafricanart.com/Benin_bronze_hip_masks.html

 

 

         This head is an even later commemorative head.  It still possesses the same crown and necklaces, but the style is changed even more.  It has an opening in the top so that elephant tusks may be placed there.  The neck is even longer and the figure possesses even more coral beaded jewelry as shown by the number of necklaces and the style of the headdress. (1)

 

 

 

 

Head of a Queen Mother
Nigeria, Edo; Court of Benin
18th-19th Century
Brass, iron; h. 20.5 inches