Early 20th Century Large Bronze Benin Fish

Description

This piece was previously on loan with the Mississippi Museum of Art. We acquired it at auction in 2023. Prior … more This piece was previously on loan with the Mississippi Museum of Art. We acquired it at auction in 2023. Prior to that time, it was housed in a private ethnographic collection. Members of the Benin Tribe use the lost wax method and coiled wired to form the fish scales and other intricate details. Fish are a symbolic creature for the Benin, symbolizing prosperity and peace. The Kingdom of Benin can be found in the country of Nigeria. It reached the height of its prosperity between 1200 and 1800 A.D. In 1897, the British invaded, burned the capital (Benin City), and added the kingdom to British Nigeria. This sculpture is almost 16 inches long and nearly 6 inches tall. less