{"product_id":"a-benin-bronze-hip-mask","title":"A Benin Bronze hip mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Benin Bronze hip mask in shape of a panther, incl. metal stand. Private collection, incl. metal stand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003cbr\u003eThe 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.\u003cbr\u003eIn 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.\u003cbr\u003eThe 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.\u003cbr\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"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\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"http:\/\/jaenicke-njoya.com\/002.anhang\/hip.masks.luschan.png\" width=\"212\" height=\"301\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLuschan, Die Altertümer Benins, Band 2, Taf. 97.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome of the information is generated by artificial intelligence and is based on published sources from the fields of ethnography, archaeology, and art history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInv. No. MAZ21610\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight: 13 cm\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 470 g (incl. stand)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Galerie Wolfgang Jaenicke","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54744968692035,"sku":"MAZ21610","price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0631\/3797\/2463\/files\/MAZ21610.jpg?v=1786884295","url":"https:\/\/wolfgang-jaenicke.com\/products\/a-benin-bronze-hip-mask","provider":"Galerie Wolfgang Jaenicke","version":"1.0","type":"link"}