Benin by Kathleen Bickford Berzock
In the late fifteenth century, the Kingdom of Benin (located in present-day southwestern Nigeria) established a mercantile relationship with Portugal, significantly increasing its wealth and might. Benin became a regional powerhouse and under a long lineage of divine rulers, or obas, it wielded great economic and political influence. The obas also supported guilds of artists, chief among them brass casters and ivory carvers, whom they employed to produce objects that honoured royal ancestors, recorded history, and glorified life at court. The sophisticated creations of Benin's royal artists stand among the greatest works of African art.This stunning book features a selection of Benin's extraordinary artworks that range from finely cast bronze figures, altar heads, and wall plaques to ivory tusks, pendants and arm cuffs embellished in detailed bas relief. An insightful essay outlines the kingdom's history and sheds light on these masterworks by describing their production and function in the context of the royal court.
Kathleen Bickford Berzock is Curator of African Art at the Art Institute of Chicago.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780300136777 |
| ISBN 10 | 0300136773 |
| Title | Benin |
| Author | Kathleen Bickford Berzock |
| Series | Art Institute Of Chicago |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Yale University Press |
| Year published | 2008-08-01 |
| Number of pages | 40 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |