Altarpiece

Description

Altarpiece of cast brass/bronze, ring shaped with figures around the circle including a standing executioner, two executed and decapitated prisoners, with birds pecking the severed heads: West Africa, Nigeria, Edo State, Benin, 17th - 18th century

Museum reference

A.1937.711

Collection

World Culture

Object name

Altarpiece

Production information

Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, Western Africa

Date

17th - 18th century

Style / Culture

Benin

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Associations

British Punitive Expedition to Benin City, 1897

Exhibitions

• Benin - Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria (08 May 2007 - 21 Sep 2008)
  Museum Für Völkerkunde
  Musée du Quai Branly
  Ethnologisches Museum
  The Art Institute of Chicago

Links to other web pages

Digital Benin