Table of Contents
What is Benin art known for?
Primarily made of cast bronze and carved ivory, Benin art was produced mainly for the court of the Oba of Benin – a divine ruler for whom the craftsmen produced a range of ceremonially significant objects.
What is decorative brass called?
A decorative brass paperweight (left), alongside samples of zinc and copper. By comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin. Despite this distinction, some types of brasses are called bronzes.
What is Benin art culture?
Most of the ancient art of Benin is royal and honors the Oba, or king of the Benin Kingdom. The general aesthetic principles of Benin art, according to Kathryn Gunsch (2018), are triadic symmetry, frontality, alternation, and decoration in the round.
What did Britain loot from Benin?
The cockerel, donated to the university in 1905 by the father of a student, is a Benin Bronze, looted during the 1897 British invasion of Benin city, in modern Nigeria, during which British forces burnt down the royal palace among other buildings and stole priceless artifacts.
Which part of Africa is Benin?
West Africa
Benin is located in West Africa and covers a land area Of 112,622 Sq. km. and constitutes a long stretch of hand perpendicular to the Coast of the Gulf of Guinea.
Why is brass so expensive?
Brass is worth more money due to it being made up almost entirely of copper, which is worth more than zinc.
What animals live in Benin?
Its varied animal life includes elephants, leopards, lions, antelope, monkeys, wild pigs, crocodiles, and buffalo. There are many species of snakes, including pythons and puff adders. Birds include guinea fowl, wild duck, and partridge, as well as many tropical species.
Who destroyed Benin City?
the British
Benin City was the principal city of the Edo (Bini) kingdom of Benin (flourished 13th–19th century). It was destroyed in 1897 by the British, who attacked after the Edo assaulted an earlier British expedition, which had been told not to enter the city during a religious festival but nonetheless attempted to do so.
What can you do with old brass figurines?
Brass figurines make attractive décor items and many brass items were produced with a practical use in mind, so many of the antiques can still be used for their intended purpose. Solid examples of bookends are commanding higher prices these days, particularly figural examples of animals and people. High-quality castings are back in style.
What kind of animals are in brass figurines?
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What’s the best price to buy antique brass?
Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles 2018 Price Guide is available from KrauseBooks.com. Current clearance price: $9.99. The key to collecting quality brass items is based on careful observation. First, a quality brass item should not have any machining or mold marks or any other evidence that modern machinery was used in the making of the piece.
Who are some famous people who used brass?
Several artists who worked in brass continue to see their values climb. Artists such as Franz and Karl Hagenauer, Josef Hoffman, Wiener Werkstatte, Peter Muller-Munk and Harry Bertoia all used brass as a medium due to its versatility. Most all of Bertoia’s musical sculptures employ brass.