A bronze head

A bronze head in the style of Ife, broard scarification patterns over the whole face surmounted with a large handle, probably a former bell, heavy encrusted patina of different layers, mainly greenish oxidised.

Ife and Benin bronze bells served primarily religious and ceremonial functions. in both cultures, bells were used in rituals to communicate with the spirit world, call upon ancestors, or honor deities. the sound of the bell was believed to carry spiritual power, making it a vital tool in sacred practices.

in the Benin and Ife-kingdom, bronze bells were closely associated with the royal court. they were used during palace ceremonies and placed on ancestral altars dedicated to past kings and important nobles. the bells symbolized authority, continuity, and reverence for lineage. they could also be worn by court officials or hung in significant locations to signal the presence of the Oba (Oni) or mark transitions during rituals.

Ife-bells also had spiritual connotations and were used in religious contexts, although they were less elaborately styled than Benin examples. Normally Ife-bells show human heads. Both formed part of the broader ritual tool kit in religious life.

Benin- and Ife- bells are used not just for sound but as objects of symbolic and artistic value, reflecting the technical mastery and deep spiritual traditions of these important West African societies.

Frank Willet, If, page 48, 85 with similar scarifications.

Height: 26,5 cm
Weight: 1,1 kg