In a joint declaration from a consortium of interested parties: Germany’s Minister of State for Culture and the Media, Monika Grütters, the Benin Dialogue Group, the City of Cologne, and Germany’s Federal Foreign Office are the participants who have pledged to return the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. In the statement, the Benin Dialogue Group announced its support for the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA), to be built in Nigeria.
The group also agreed to hold further talks with their Nigerian partners, pledged transparency going forward, and set a timetable for future talks. As described in a report by the BBC, “British troops looted thousands of artworks known as the Benin Bronzes from the Kingdom of Benin, in present-day Nigeria, in 1897.” According to the report, among the looted art, The Ethnological Museum of Berlin holds more than 500 pieces.
I recently visited an antique shop in Houston and discovered several bronze statues from Benin. Below are images, one from The the Hamburg Museum of Art and Trade, and from my antique store visit a couple of weeks ago.
Three bronzes from Benin in the Hamburg Museum of Art and Trade. Photo credit: picture alliance/Daniel Bockwoldt
Bronze Benin statue at a Houston antique shop
Close-up of Bronze Benin statue at a Houston antique shop
Bronze Benin figure at a Houston antique shop
Close-up of Bronze figure from Benin at a Houston antique shop
Four bronze figures from Benin at a Houston antique shop
3 comments
Christopher, did you get any provenance on these pieces? I’ve seen several exhibits of the 19th century Benin Bronzes and there’s something about these pictured that seems “wrong”. Size for one thing, the embellishing of the iconography seems to ‘over the top’. There are still bronze casters in Nigeria, some using the ‘old ways’, but others who have modern equipment with a greater ‘pour capacity.
Just wondering?
Jack, unfortunately, no. The tag said Benin, from Nigeria. Assuming Benin City since it also listed Nigeria. Doubtful that the antique dealer has provenance to share.
Hi I’m the owner of the stor in the antique store.That is the story behind the big statue of oba Akenzua ll (Benin city Nigeria)
Oba Akenzua II
{1932AD-1978AD}
Prince Godfrey Edokpa- Orhogbuyunmwun Aiguobasinmwin Eweka was born on the 5th of April, 1899 at Irhirhi village in the late Orhumwense’s house. He was heir presumptive to the crown prince (heir Apparent) to the throne of Benin at a time that tried the soul of the Edos as their King’s life was hanging on the balance. His grand-father, Ovonramwen, the last independent King of Benin was deposed and deported to calabar after the war of 1897 on 13th September 1897.
He was the only child of his mother, Queen Ariowa as the Benin custom did not permit a second birth to the mother of a would-be King. This is seen in the adage that “Omo Kpa r’ Ekpen bie”. His mother hailed from Evbodobian village in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State. She did not live to see her son enthroned in 1933 as she passed away in 1926 but her body was embalmed at Evborubu village,according to custom until she was officially buried after the accession of her son as Oba of Benin in 1935. She was then proclaimed “IYOBA” (Oba’s Mother) The son built a house and raised monument to her memory at the entrance to Eguae-Iyoba. He also built a house at her