A FINE AND RARE BENIN BRONZE PLAQUE, Nigeria, 16th-17th Century

Ladislas Segy, New York, by 1958
Chaim and Renee Gross, acquired from the above on February 29, 1968

Grey Art Gallery, New York University, New York, Images of Power. Art of the Royal Court of Benin, January 23 - February 21, 1981
The Center for African Art, New York, Africa Explores: 20th Century African Art, May 16 - December 31, 1991

Ladislas Segy, African Sculpture, New York, 1958, pl. 59
Flora Kaplan (ed.), Images of Power. Art of the Royal Court of Benin, New York, 1981, p. 54, fig. cat. 42
Susan Vogel, Africa Explores: 20th Century African Art, Munich, 1991, p. 257, cat. 119

Good condition overall; losses to the bottom and top parts of the background with a break line leading up two and a half inches behind the proper right side of the skirt; the tip of the nose, proper right lips, tips of two leopard teeth and three adjacent ornaments on the figure's sash are flattened, the cause of which is unknown; areas of abrasion in the front of the coiffure and right armlet; exceptionally fine aged patina with partial corrosion and red residue.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The second of the Gross plaques depicts a male figure of rare iconography, identified as a warrior of high rank by the double swords he holds pressed to his body under his left arm, and the leopard-tooth necklace encircling his neck. The elaborate wrapped skirt in this case is nearly hidden beneath layers of decorative bells draped across his right shoulder and covering his torso. For a nearly identical treatment of a figure wearing multiple bells, see another plaque in the collection of the Museum für Völkerkunde, Leipzig (von Luschan 1919: 101, Abb. 181). See also the plaque in the Ethnologische Museum, Berlin, inv. no. 'III.C.8375', depicting a figure similarly covered in bells and wearing a leopard-tooth necklace (loc. cit.: 127, Abb. 217). The attachment of bells is more than likely another sign of prestige. In addition, the multiple armbands encircling his right arm confirm that the figure is a person of considerable rank in Benin hierarchy.

An unusual feature on this plaque is the fact that the figure is wearing a beard, perhaps a reference to the figure of a foreigner. From the first contact with Portuguese traders the image of the foreigner is shown dressed in the European clothing of the period and wearing a beard (see loc. cit.: 39, Abb. 40-42 for plaques showing individual Portuguese figures). It is possible that the casting of the beard on this figure is another indicator of status. However, it is also possible that this feature is a regional style. For other plaques with bearded figures see loc. cit. (194, Abb. 317; 200, Abb. 324; 258, Abb. 384 and 386).

The hairstyle of the figure is highly unusual, consisting of row upon row of dreadlocks swept back in parallel lines from the brow. A single strand of hair, decorated with coral beads, flies from the lefthand-side of the face. A closely-related hairstyle is present on other plaques. See loc. cit. (pl. 28, lower left) showing a single strand cascading from either side of the head and loc. cit. (200, Abb. 324) for a related figure also wearing a similar chin beard.

While we do not know exactly who this figure is, we do know that hairstyles were clearly important as indicators of rank: An engraving published in 1604 by Johann Theodor de Bry (1561-1623) is entitled "Representatio Capitum Praecipuarum Aliquot Personarum in Benyn" (representation of the heads of some principal characters in Benin). The image shows a variety of hairstyles, attributing them to specific social ranks of men and women. The men's section is divided into "Capitijnen" and "Soldaten," which can be translated as "captains" and "troops", suggesting that certain hairstyles were reserved for specific social or military ranks. In addition, it is clear that the artist who cast this plaque placed particular emphasis on the visibility of the braid. The appearance of dreadlocks on figures shown on two other plaques is significant - each shows the Oba on horseback framed by two figures with dreadlocks holding their shields over the Oba's head (loc. cit: 196-197, Abb. 319 and 320, and pl. 24). This iconography suggests that dreadlocks may have been reserved for someone of high rank in the royal guard, possibly part of the Oba's personal guard.