African Bronze Benin Head from Nigeria 9.25'' Tall x 3'' Wide

The Benin Bronzes were made using the lost was casting technique and the metal they used was sourced from brass jewelry that was traded to them by the Portuguese. They melted the jewelry and made these bronze plaques for the Royal palace. When the Europeans came they were astounded at what they saw. To them, the people in Africa were "primitive" and wouldn't be able to create art. Not only were they able to create beautiful art but they used the lost wax technique which the Europeans believe they invented back in antiquity. (They were similarly surprised when they came to the new world and saw the peoples of North and South America using lost wax casting.) At the time of the discovery, lost wax casting was still pretty normal, so it was quite shocking to see that it was being made the exact same way by a people they considered "primitive." These bronzes represent the first time Europeans really thought of the people in Africa as somewhat equal since they were creating works of art using the same (complex) process.

very good