Benin Bronze Leopard Aquamanile Antique African Vessel 17+", 21+ LBS, Priv. Coll., EXQUISITE Museum Quality ! Start Price USD 16,000.00 Current Price USD 16,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 24, 2008 End Time Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Location Santa Fe, NM See more about 'Benin Bronze Leopard Aquamanile Antique African Vessel' Description   Early Benin Bronze Leopard Aquamanile VesselAntique African Royal Art Traditional Tribal SculptureOld Benin Kingdom Nigeria     An Important Early Benin Bronze Leopard Figure Aquamanile VesselAntique African Art Tribal Sculpture Ritual Container Old Benin Kingdom, Nigeria Collected from the: Old Benin Kingdom in what is now known as Nigeria, West AfricaMaterial: Bronze, old lost wax casting of copper/tin alloyEstimated Period: Late 16th to early 17th centuryDimensions: 17.5" height, 9.5" width, 12" depth; weight is 21.70 poundsCondition: Exceptional. Held in private collection, the condition of this exquisitely thin-walled, finely detailed leopard remains unchanged from the time of it's original late 1940's field acquisition. Significant signs of age, anticipated minute flaws, known as "blow holes", inherent to the early casting process; tool signatures, refined metal content, iconography and surface condition appear appropriate for the period. Virtually smooth (non-granular) surface condition produced only from the utmost care of a highly skilled peak period caster applying the first layer of slip to the wax mold in the initial steps of the technique. Gorgeous deep chocolate patina, displays skin oil residue at chest and shoulders (exactly where human hands would brace for pouring) with liberal brassy highlights. Make special note of the tail handle, hinged hole at top of head and the delicately incised stippling over every square inch of this leopard's surface - a superior, museum quality specimen! Please click on the photos below to fully appreciate this important old piece! And be sure to see the beautiful AFRICAN BRONZES in our eBay store! And be sure to see the amazing AFRICAN SCULPTURES in our eBay store! Click Images to Enlarge Royal Benin Aquamanile Ritual Vessels"A variety of vessels were made in Benin, including buckets, bowls, jugs, boxes, and aquamanile in the form of leopards and rams. Oba Ewuare the Great, who reigned in the mid-fifteenth century, is credited with the original acquisition of these containers for use in palace rituals. According to oral traditions, Ewuare obtained the brass vessels, along with coral-bead regalia, from the underwater palace of Olokun, the god of the sea, where these spiritually charged objects, called iru were in use on the shrine to Olokun's father, Osanobua, the creator god. When Ewuare found them he heard voices within them repeating "ise, ise, ise," a ritual response akin to 'amen'. Ewuare brought the vessels back to his own palace, where they were placed on the Benin state shrine, Ebo n'Edo. After Ewuare's death, his successor, Olua, broke the magic brass vessels in order to see the spirits inside them. Finding nothing, he ordered replacements to be made, and instructed the ancestral priests henceforth to cover their mouths while saying "ise" to disguise the fact that the words did not come from the vessels themselves. The spirit-containing vessels have been documented by European visitors to Benin. Based on observations made in the early seventeenth century, Olfert Dapper noted that people in Benin believe in spirits that communicate by sounds said to come from a pot. In Benin today, ritual specialists (Emuru) who serve the Ebo n'Edo shrine, carry vessels filled with protective substances. Ebo n'Edo is dedicated to deities who control the well-being of the entire Benin kingdom, such as Uwen and Ora who accompanied Oranmiyan from Ife to Benin when he came to found the present royal dynasty. The Ebo n'Edo shrine, its spirits, the priests who serve them, and the objects used in their rituals are seen as references to the origin of the dynasty and the authority inherited by the Obas, who are all descendants of Oranmiyan. Benin brass vessels, then, are not merely utilitarian containers. They refer to the Oba's ancestral authority, to Ewuare, one of the greatest of all Obas, and, because of the circumstances under which Ewuare acquired the first vessels, to the earthly riches and spiritual powers that stem from the Oba's relationship to Olokun, the god of the sea. The legendary underwater source of Ewuare's magical vessels may actually have been the European ships that crossed Olokun's realm to reach Benin. This is suggested by the surprising number of Benin vessels that correspond to European types. The most dramatic examples are the aquamaniles, vessels in animal form that were used, as their name suggests, for washing the hands. Aquamaniles have a small, round, hinged opening at the top of the head through which it could be filled with water, which was then poured out through the pierced nostrils. The tails served as handles. Aquamaniles were made in Europe from about 1100 to about 1500, and were used in both secular and religious contexts. It is possible that similar vessels were carried aboard the Portuguese - and later Dutch - ships that traded with Benin. Benin aquamaniles were also used for hand washing. After dressing for Ugie Erha Oba, the ceremony which honors his paternal ancestors, the Oba washes his hands with water poured from an aquamanile. One of the Enisen, a group of titleholders in the Iwebo palace association, is responsible for carrying the aquamanile, which is kept on the altar dedicated to Ewuare when not in use." See Ezra's Royal Art of Benin for further details on this fascinating form. Chronology of Benin ArtAs a result of the abrupt and violent manner in which most royal art forms of the kingdom of Benin were removed from their original context by the British in 1897, there is a dearth of documentation to situate individual works historically. This has led art historians to propose stylistic theories concerning their chronological execution. The current accepted theory is that the smallest and most naturalistic objects are the earliest, with a gradual progression toward increased size and degree of stylization. Between 1500 and 1800, the Benin kingdom gradually grew in both wealth and power, primarily through extensive trade with the Portuguese. In the arts, this expansion is manifested in a dramatic increase in the size and ostentation of royal regalia. Crowns of Edo kings grew steadily more encrusted with coral beading and this appears to have been reflected in changes in commemorative representations as well. Additionally, the largess of royal patronage decreased artisans' incentive to be judicious with expensive materials, allowing them to create ever-larger objects. Therefore, in the attempt to construct a chronology for Benin art, it makes sense that later castings would be both heavier and larger objects that conspicuously consumed greater quantities of imported brass and emphasized the more elaborate regalia. Benin Tribal HistoryBenin, the principle kingdom of western Africa from the 12th to 19th centuries, was founded by the Edo peoples; ruled by the Oba, the divine ruler or king whose ancestral lineage has ruled since the 14th century; and has long received world wide acclaim for its exceptional art, especially remarkable bronzes created from the old lost wax method of casting. The people of Benin (the Bini) were direct descendants of the Ife, also renowned for bronze art. Traditionally Benin art was created to honor the Oba who controlled the use and production of all elephant tusk (ivoire) and bronze materials. Benin traded with the Portuguese and Dutch during the 15th century, allowing the first pieces of this incredible work to be brought out into the Western World. Some believe that influence of this contact can be seen in the art since that period. The British burned and conquered Benin City in 1897, leaving the remains of a once flourishing kingdom to be incorporated into British Nigeria. The Bini viewed the leopard as ferocious with a cunning intelligence that marked the beast as the true leader of the animal kingdom, thus making it the supreme symbol of royal authority and official royal icon of the Benin empire whose use was a prerogative of the Oba, who were known to keep a pair of tame leopards in the royal compound as pets that were used on special occasions as a symbol of his power and authority over the Benin subjects. Each bronze was first hand sculpted, then cast through the lost wax process, resulting in unique, one-of-a-kind art that has amazed the world with its complexity of detailed designs and sophisticated style. It is widely believed that Benin's use of bronze symbolized power, continuity, endurance, and permanence of the rulers, the Benin kingdom, and the Bini themselves. In 1914 the Oba lifted restrictions on art sales and the bronze guilds began to create for the public, making these authentic old bronzes a rare and treasured find indeed. Cat. # mbbl3 ************************************************************************************ THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING SANTA FE AFRICAN ART !!! We strive to earn your ***** FIVE STAR ***** rating in all 4 categories!If you are not 5 star satisfied, please contact us immediately!Your Satisfaction is Unconditionally Guaranteed ! ************************************************************************************ Multiple purchases = SUBSTANTIAL savings on your shipping costs! Never a charge for handling! Important Note: UPS and USPS International request a daytime phone number for delivery, PLEASE be sure to include this information with your payment to ensure expedited service. Dimensional weight domestic rates include tracking or free Delivery Confirmation. USPS insurance is optional and highly recommended. 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