BENIN, NIGERIA
BRONZE, HEIGHT 33CM
This altar piece shows the Oba (king) with 2 body guards and 2 slaves. In typical Benin tradition the king is the largest figure and the slaves are the smallest, indicating the hierarchy importance and power. Like all Benin bronzes this piece was created in the “lost wax technique”. This means there will be only one original. in the front section on top of the base, it looks like some of the wax had flown out.