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Alle Auktionen / Etnografica / A bronze sculpture - Benin - Nigeria
Fish-Shaped Lidded Box in Copper Alloy Kingdom of Benin, Benin City Region, Nigeria Copper alloy (“bronze”) The cast box takes the complete form of a fish. Its squat body is divided into two precisely fitting halves; the upper part forms a removable lid. Finely punched and engraved scales cover its back, while fins and forked tail are accentuated by linear incisions. The circular eye and wide mouth lend the creature an almost watchful presence. An arched handle on the back connects the sculptural form with the functional vessel. The irregular greenish-brown patina enhances the impression of material density and historical use. Formally and iconographically, the object belongs to the metalwork tradition of the historical Kingdom of Benin, whose center was in present-day Benin City in southern Nigeria. The highly developed art of casting in the Edo period was largely carried out by specialized court guilds and was closely linked to the representation of the Oba, the King of Benin. Fish—especially the amphibious mudfish or catfish—hold a special significance in Benin's courtly imagery. As creatures between water and land, they symbolize the transgression of boundaries and the Oba's connection to Olokun, the deity of the sea, wealth, and supernatural powers. In this form, everyday function and cosmological metaphor merge into a vessel that is both precious and symbolically charged. Literature (selection): Ezra, Kate: Royal Art of Benin: The Perls Collection, New York 1992. Barley, Nigel: The Art of Benin, London 2010. Ben-Amos, Paula Girshick: The Art of Benin, London 1995. Inv. No. MAZ22776 Legal Framework Under the 1970 UNESCO Convention in combination with the Kulturgutschutz Gesetz (KGSG) any claim for the restitution of cultural property becomes time-barred three years after the competent authorities of the State of origin obtain knowledge of the object’s location and the identity of its possessor. All bronzes and terracotta items offered have been publicly exhibited in Wolfgang Jaenicke Gallery since 2001. Organisations such as DIGITAL BENIN and academic institutions such as the Technical University of Berlin, which have been intensively involved in restitution-reseaches (translocation-project) over the past seven years, are aware of our work, have inspected large parts of our collection and have visited us in our dependance in Lomé, Togo, among other places, to learn about the international Art trade on site. Furthermore, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in Abuja, Nigeria, has been informed about our collection. In no case in the past have there been restitution claims against private institutions such as the Wolfgang Jaenicke Gallery Our Gallery addresses these structural challenges through a policy of maximum transparency and documentation. Should any questions or uncertainties arise, we invite you to contact us. Each matter will be reviewed diligently using all available resources.
Schätzpreis:€850
Zur AuktionAlle Objekte ansehen vonCatawikioderEtnografica
Schätzpreis:
€850
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