Total Weight 27 grams .925 Sterling Silver
Size 9
Photo Credit: British Museum
Queen Idia, mother of Oba Esigie, king of Benin from the late fifteenth to the early sixteenth century, played a key role in her son's military campaigns against the Igala people, which may have been over control of the Niger waterway. Benin finally won these wars and made the Igala king a vassal of the Oba.
Oba Esigie also fought an internal battle with his brother, Arhuaran, over the establishment of a capital city. Oba Esigie was based in the capital, Benin City, but Arhuaran sought to establish another large important city, Udo, as the main centre. Brass casters of Benin were taken to Udo to work until Oba Esigie won the war.
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 honour of her military and ritual powers. Such heads were placed in altars in the palace and in the Queen Mother's residence.
(source, British Museum)
| Title | African Mask |
| Date | 16thC |
| Dimension | Height: 24.5 centimetres Width: 12.5 centimetres Depth: 6 centimetres |
| Accession | Af1910,0513.1 |
| Period | null |
| Medium | iron |
| Record | http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=621190&partId=1&searchText=African+Mask&sortBy=imageName&page=1 |
| Place | British Museum |
Because of a move for museums around the world to share their relics with the people of the world I happened to gain access to thousands of 3d scans of ancient artifacts from many countries and long gone empires From Africa to Spain. So as a history buff and a jeweler I saw a great opportunity to share relics and the history behind them. Its a little something really old with a new twist. Remember these pieces are created from the actual 3d image scans of the actual pieces in the museums. Each Museum will be credited where I can.