Description

During the 16th century, coastal trade made brass amply available in the Kingdom of Benin. King Esigie (reigned about 1504–about 1550) exploited the inflow by commissioning his court’s brass casters to make commemorative plaques for his palace. The warrior depicted here wears a coral-studded cap and collar indicating his rank. The horseshoe shape in the upper left corner represents a copper or brass ring known as a manilla. Manufactured in Europe, such rings were used as currency among the Benin people.

Provenance

Oba Ovonramwen (r. 1888-97, died 1914), Benin City, Kingdom of Benin, before 1897; taken during the British military raid by George W. Neville (died 1929), Weybridge, England, 1897; by descent to his heirs, 1929; sold, Foster, London, May 1, 1930, lot. 53 [according to correspondence with Jean-Louis Paudrat in curatorial object file] to Ernest Ascher (died early 1970s), Paris, to at least July 15, 1932 [Jean-Louis Paudrat correspondence mentioned above]. Paul Vamos, Paris, Nov. 25, 1932. Ladislas Szecsi (Ladislas Segy, died 1988), Paris then New York, by March 1933; sold to the Art Institute, 1933.