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a close up of a statue of a man with a helmet onan old black and white photo of a statue of a man holding a sword
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26 - FRAGMENT OF A BENIN PLAQUE NIGERIA Royal Guild of Bronze Cas…
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Estimate €10,000 - €15,000
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Description
FRAGMENT OF A BENIN PLAQUE NIGERIA Royal Guild of Bronze Casters (Igun Eronmwon) 16th?–17th? century Bronze H.: 20.5 cm (8 in.) (Bears an old sales label on the reverse) A Benin plaque fragment, Nigeria Provenance: Han Coray (1880–1974), Zurich/Agnuzzo Pierre Dartevelle (1940–2022), Brussels Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection (1932–2009), Brussels, then passed down through the family Public auction: Bonhams, London, Tribal Art, 2 December 1991, lot no. 44, illustrated on the cover Bibliography: Morigi (Paolo), Masterpieces of Ancient African Culture from the Casa Coray Collection, Agnuzzo, Casa Coray, 1968, fig. 58 Dartevelle (Valérie) & Plisnier (Valentine), Pierre Dartevelle and Primitive Art: Memory and Continuity, vol. II, 5 Continents, 2021, p. 44, fig. 56 50th Belgian Antiques Fair, Brussels, 21–30 January 2005, p. 284 (Advertisement – Galerie Dartevelle) From the Han Coray collection, this bronze is a fragment of one of the architectural plaques that adorned the Royal Palace of Benin. The composition centres on a high-ranking dignitary whose status is indicated by his symbols of prestige. He wears a beaded crown adorned with a feather on one side, a coral bead necklace (odigba) and brass bracelets, whilst holding a ceremonial sword (eben). The background features dotted textures and a four-lobed river-leaf motif (ebe-ame), associated with water. Alongside the dignitaries of the royal court, the collection of Benin plaques also includes numerous depictions of European merchants and soldiers. These individuals supplied the manillas – imported brass ingots – which constituted the main raw material used for casting the bronzes. In the Edo worldview, European merchants were regarded as emissaries of Olokun, a white-faced deity who bestowed wealth and offspring from across the sea. The craftsmen depicted their long hair, noses and clothing to emphasise their foreign origin. Their presence on the palace walls is not a record of European trade as such, but rather celebrates the Oba’s mastery over maritime riches and his legendary victory over Olokun. A BENIN PLAQUE FRAGMENT NIGERIA Royal Bronze-Casting Guild (Igun Eronmwon) 16??–17?? century Bronze H.: 8 in. (With an old auction label on the reverse) Provenance: Han Coray (1880–1974), Zurich/Agnuzzo Pierre Dartevelle (1940–2022), Brussels Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection (1932–2009), Brussels, then by descent Public auction: Bonhams, London, Tribal Art, 2 December 1991, lot 44, illustrated on the cover. Bibliography: Morigi (Paolo), Masterpieces of Ancient African Culture from the Casa Coray Collection, Agnuzzo, Casa Coray, 1968, fig. 58 Dartevelle (Valérie) & Plisnier (Valentine), Pierre Dartevelle and Primitive Art: Memory and Continuity, vol. II, 5 Continents, 2021, p. 44, fig. 56 50th Belgian Antiques Fair, Brussels, 21–30 January 2005, p. 284 (Advertisement: Galerie Dartevelle) Formerly in the Han Coray collection, this bronze is a fragment of one of the architectural plaques that adorned the royal palace of Benin. The composition centres on a high-ranking courtier whose status is indicated by his regalia. He wears a beaded crown with a feather on one side, a coral-bead collar (odigba) and brass bracelets, whilst holding a ceremonial sword (eben). The background features stippled textures and a four-lobed river-leaf motif (ebe-ame), associated with water. Whilst this fragment depicts a member of the royal court, the wider corpus of Benin plaques also includes numerous representations of European traders and soldiers. These traders supplied the manillas, imported brass coins that served as the principal raw material for bronze casting. Within the Edo worldview, Europeans were regarded as emissaries of Olokun, a white-faced deity who sent wealth and offspring across the sea. Artists depicted their long hair, facial features and clothing to emphasise their foreign origin. Their presence on the palace walls does not celebrate European trade itself, but rather the Oba’s control over maritime wealth and his legendary triumph over Olokun.
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About the sale The Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection: Art from Africa and Oceania
Auction location
Auction time 09/08/2026 at 4:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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