Antique African Benin Edo Bronze Head Queen Mother Idia

Antique African Benin / Edo Bronze Head of Iyoba, Queen Mother Idia | The head was hand sculpted by the Edo people using lost-wax casting in Bronze-Brass alloys to commemorative the Iyoba or Queen Mother Idia, the mother of Oba Esigie (q.v), who helped him rise to power in 1504. The title of 'Iyoba' (Queen Mother) was created in her honor by Esigie | The sculpture is almost the size of a female head, with a curving conical hairstyle covered with openwork coral bead net; long strings of coral beads at sides and back. Wears high coral bead collar. The vertical marks on the forehead are eight scarification marks, four above each eye | Approx. Size: 21" tall.Literature:Read & Dalton 1899 / Antiquities from the City of Benin and from other parts of West Africa in the British Museum (pl IX.4)Notes:A brass head representing Queen Idia was made to be placed in her altar following her death. It is said that Oba Esigie instituted the title of Queen Mother and established the tradition of casting heads of this type in honor of her military and ritual powers. Such heads were placed in altars in the palace and in the Queen Mother's residence. British Museum