BENIN BRONZE UDO HEAD
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Object: Bronze Udo Head
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Country of Origin: Old Benin Kingdom, Nigeria
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Circa: 16th - 17th century
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Material: Bronze (Copper & Tin Alloy)
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Overall Condition: Very Good. Heavy oxidation and patina of age and use.
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Dimensions: 10 inches tall
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Status: Private Collection
A metal bust with a rounded, naturalistic face, almond shaped eyes a broad nose and full lips, sropting a crown of coral beads in early Benin Kingdom layered wig style. The crown is acented with two spiked beads on the sides of the head, from which pairs of braided beads flow shoulder-length. The bust sports six ringed necklaces, and terminates on a round, rigid base. The rear of the bust features a long, rectangular cut-off, another major departure from the standard Benin casting style. Heavy red rust, green oxidation and other various partina.
The Udo bronze head remains a standout, not just for the departure from the better known styles in the corpus of Benin art, but also for its rarity. This is probably a direct result of the history that attends this genre of Benin altar heads.
At the time of his father Oba Ozolua's death, (Esigie controlled Benin City and his brother Arhuaran controlled Udo, a town about 20 miles northwest of Benin City that was nearly its equal in size and influence. Esigie encouraged and actively patronized the arts, especially bronze casting in Benin. Esigie also fought an internal battle with his brother, Arhuaran, over the establishment of a capital city. Benin City was the capital of the Kingdom, but Arhuaran sought to establish another large important city, Udo, as the main center. During the bitter power struggle with Ahruaran, the casters of Benin were relocated to Udo to do work, and Udo was for a while the art and culture center of the Edo Kingdom.
After a bitter power struggle with Arhuaran, Esigie moved the casters back to Benin City. With the assistance of his mother Queen Idia, Esigie became the Oba of Benin. The final battle was fought and won by Oba Esigie. Arhuaran drowned himself in Lake Odighi N'Udo.
Chief Osemwughe, the Isaye of udo took up arms again against Esigie's monarchial authority to avenge the defeat and the death of Ahruaran, his erstwhile benefactor. Oba Esigie once again launched a wara on Udo. This time, Esigie reduced Udo to rubble, after Chief Osemwughe and his rebel armies fled west of Benin Kingdom, now part of Yoruba land.
Esigie started a tradition in Benin by investing his mother with the title of Iyoba (Queen Mother) and providing the Eguae-Iyoba (Palace of the Queen Mother) in lower Uselu for her use.
Oba Esigie commissioned metal arts tat eventually acheived worldwide distinction. Of the best known pieces are the famous Queen Mother Idia busts. Professor Felix von Luschen, a former official of the Berlin Museum für Völkerkunde, stated that: "These works from Benin are equal to the very finest examples of European casting technique. Benvenuto Cellini could not have cast them better, nor could anyone else before or after him.... Thechnically, these bronzes represent the very highest possible achievement."
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