A Benin Bronze hip mask

A Benin Bronze hip mask in shape of a panther, incl. metal stand. Private collection, incl. metal stand.

This oval-shaped, heavily openwork bronze piece depicts a stylized feline head—that of a leopard—whose face is covered with raised dots evoking the animal’s spotted coat.
The large, perforated circular eyes, the erect ears, and the linear motifs arranged on the cheeks reinforce an expressive frontal orientation, while a border of small rings suggests an ancient system of attachment or suspension.
In the courtly artistic traditions of the Kingdom of Benin, the leopard is a powerful emblem of sovereignty, associated with the Oba and with the idea of mastery, strength, and authority over the earthly world.
The symmetrical arrangement of the decoration, the density of the reliefs, and the mastery of the casting technique attest to an object conceived not only as an animal representation but also as a material medium for political and ritual expression.
The greenish-brown patina, surface deposits, peripheral gaps, and wear on the metal now accentuate the historical materiality of this piece, whose original function was likely part of a context of adornment, pomp, or court ceremonial.

"The king and other participants wear their most lavish ceremonial costumes, consisting of vast quantities of costly imported coral beads, luxurious textiles, and ornaments made of gleaming brass and creamy ivory. This ornament in the shape of a leopard's head was part of such a costume, and was meant to be worn around the waist." Source: MET NY

Luschan, Die Altertümer Benins, Band 2, Taf. 97.

An fast genau derselben Stelle, aber nicht mit ihnen zu verwechseln, finden sich auf über 20 Platten Panthermasken, die nichts mit einem Schwert oder Schwertscheide zu tun haben, sondern lediglich als Schuck des Gürtels oder zur Sicherung seines Verschlußes dienen. Wie dieser Verschluß im einzelnen bewerkstelligt wurde, ist an den Platten nirgend zuz sehen,..zwei schöne Originale solcher Masken aus Bronze und eines aus Elfenbein sind hier auf Taf. 97 c E unbd D abgebildet.

Some of the information is generated by artificial intelligence and is based on published sources from the fields of ethnography, archaeology, and art history.

Inv. No. MAZ21610

Height: 13 cm
Weight: 470 g (incl. stand)