Sculptures of Ancient Nigeria:
Nok, Igbo Ukwu, Ife, Benin (Edo-Bini)
2500 BP (500 BC) –1897 AD
Map of Nigeria depicting the ancient culture areas
Conceptual basis of African Art
Visual Metaphors
Emotional & Social Proportions
Head—site of spirituality and personality
Nok: the birth of Art in Africa
Oldest sculpture in Africa south of the Sahara
Dates back 2500 BP—500 BCE
Located on the plateau
In North central Nigeria
Characteristics:
- Fairly naturalistic life size cylindrical heads and figures
-Semi circular/triangular eyes
-Flared nostrils
-Pierced eyes, nose, mouth and ears
-Elaborate coiffure
The Dinya Head
Nok, Nigeria
c. 500 BC – AD 200
( 2500 – 1800 BP )
Terracotta
36 x 22.5 cm
Warrior Figure
Nok, Nigeria
Terracotta
88 x 23 x 20 cm
Head of a Bearded Man,
Nok (Sokoto)
Terracotta,
2300BP
Amulet statuette,
Nok, Nigeria
Terracotta,
2350 BP,
h. 5.5 in
Kneeling male figure,
Nok, Nigeria
Terracotta
65.5 x 19 x 23 cm
Based on style elements object might have
Functioned as finials on rooftops
Human/Bird Composite
Birdman,
Nok, Nigeria
Terracotta
47 x 20 x 22 cm
Statue on bended knee with Elephant and Feline,
Nok, Terracotta,
2350 BP
Igbo Ukwu: Art of an ancient Aristocracy
Igbo Ukwu art comes from 3 Archaeological sites in southeastern Nigeria:
Igbo Richard, Igbo Isaiah and Igbo Jonah
-consists of objects made from bronze, terracotta, beads and Ivory
-metal objects were made by the lost wax technique
-they are believed to date to around 1100 BP(900 AD)
-objects discovered in ancient burial chambers, shrines and storage areas
-made by sophisticated bronze casting techniques
Objects include bronze pendants, bowls, and shells
With skeuomorphic ornamentations
Caroline Sasson’s rendering of
the burial chamber of Igbo Richard,
Depicting the priest-king,
Igbo Ukwu,
Water color,
Artistic rendering of the storage house
From Igbo Isaiah, depicting some of the sacred objects on an altar
Roped Vessel on a stand,
Igbo Ukwu,
Leaded bronze,
1100 BP (900AD)
Staff finial or flywhisk handle
With an equestrian motif,
Igbo Ukwu, Nigeria
9th century (1100 BP)
Bronze
h. 15.7 cm (6 3/16 in.)
Emotional/social proportion
Head Pendant
Igbo Ukwu, Nigeria
9th Century (1100 BP)
Bronze
h. 7.6 cm
Keloid like patterns on the face
are marks of distinction and identity
Triton shell, Igbo Ukwu, Nigeria, Bronze, 1100 BP
Skeuomorphic image of a snail shell
Globular ceramic vessel with everted rim, Igbo Ukwu, Nigeria
9th Century (1100 BP), Terracotta, h. 40.6 cm
Ife: origin of Art and Life
Ife: Origins of Art and Civilization
Art consists of objects in Terracotta, Leaded Brass, & Stone
--objects date to 1000-500 BP (1000-1500AD)
-art created for the ruling elite
Style elements:
Idealized naturalism
Striation on the face
Slightly elongated necks, with rolls of fat
Careful modeling
Heavily beaded figures with elaborate headdresses
Full length figures and busts
Group of stylized abstract heads representing, inner spiritual head--site of personality
Yoruba, (Ita Yemoo, Ife) Nigeria, terracotta, h. 13 cm(5 in); 19 cm(7.1/2 in);
16.5 cm (61/2 in) 16 cm (6 3/8 in)
Ooni (Ruler),
Yoruba, (Ita Yemoo, Ife) Nigeria
12th -13th century (800-700 BP)
Zinc brass (leaded brass)
47.1 x 17.3 x 16.3 cm
Appro. h. 18 3/8 in
Idealized naturalism
Emotional proportion
Lajuwa, royal usurper
Terra-cotta,
Ife, Yoruba, 12/15th cent.
(odo) Ephebism:
relative youthfulness
Head,
Yoruba (Ife), Nigeria
12th-15th century (700-500 BP)
Zinc brass (leaded brass)
31 x 9.5 cm
Mask Head
Yoruba (Ife) Nigeria
12th-15th century (700-500 BP)
Copper, 33 x 19 cm (13 in)
Seated figure,
Yoruba, (Tada) Nigeria
13th-14th Century
(700-600 BP),
Copper
55. 7 x 34.4 x 36 cm
h. 21 9/10 in.
Ceremonial vessel with female form
Ife (Yoruba) Nigeria
Leaded brass
900-800 BP (11th/12th Century)
Crowned Head of a Ruler,
Ife, Nigeria
Zinc Brass,
800-500 BP (12th-15th cent.)
Leo Frobenius assumed this was
Greek Poseidon or Roman Neptune
Which belonged to the famed Atlantis
Benin: foundation, zenith and demise
1450-1897
Oranmiyan, Eweka Dynasty
The Royal Art of Benin
Found in southwestern Nigeria
-Objects consist of commemorative busts
and ritual items for members of the royal family
Vast majority of art made in bronze, terracotta, and ivory
Early Period (Warrior Kings 1450-1575 i.e 600-400 B.P )
Middle Period (Plaque Period, 1575-1700 i.e 400-300 B.P )
Late Period (Restoration Period 1700-1897 i.e 300-100 B.P )
Style Elements
Thin castings,
Busts depict beaded collars
Delicately rendered features
Careful attention to details, in terms of surface ornamentation
Bust of Kings and Queen-mothers
Plaques, animal imagery etc
Head of Oba,
Benin, Nigeria,
Brass and iron,
early period, (500-400 BP)
8.25 in. (21 cm)
Head of an Oba,
Late Period,
Bronze, 18 in.
Head of a Queen Mother,
Benin, Nigeria
16th century (400 BP)
Brass
h. 35 cm
Warrior Chiefs, Bronze Plaque, 400-300 B.P, 18.7/8 in
Plaque of warrior chiefs, Benin, Nigeria, 16th century (400 BP), brass 50 x 37 cm
Social proportion--hierarchy
Portuguese Soldier,
Plaque Period,
Bronze
Palace Messenger,
Bronze, Benin, Nigeria
Late period
Leopards, Bronze, Benin, Nigeria, late period
Evoking the metaphoric powers of the ruler
Stool with mudfish motif, bronze, Benin, Nigeria, Late Period
Metaphor of transformation, survival and continuity
British Marines displaying their loot after the sack of Benin, 1897
Mask,
Ivory,
16th century
Benin
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