The Benin Bronzes

IN A NUTSHELL

- Emma Slattery Williams

WHAT ARE THE BENIN BRONZES?

The Benin Bronzes are a collection of more than 3,000 decorative pieces from the Kingdom of Benin (in modern-day Nigeria), which existed from the 1100s until 1897 and should not be confused with the current West African country of Benin. They adorned the palace of the oba, or king, and - as the finest examples of Benin art in existence - are important historical records of the kingdom and its people, the Edo.

More than that, however, the Bronzes are a highly controversial source of ongoing international debate. In 1897, they were looted by the British and are now spread across 160-plus museums or private collections around the world, mostly in Europe and the United States. There may be others that have gone unidentified, too, gathering dust in attics or archives. Only nine Nigerian institutions contain any of the Bronzes. As a significant part of their heritage, the people of Nigeria have made, and continue to make, passionate calls for the repatriation of the treasures.

WHEN WERE THE BENIN BRONZES MADE?

The majority of the pieces date back to two 'golden ages' of Benin art: the reign of Oba Esigie in the first half of the 1500s and the reign of Oba Eresoyen, who ruled from 1735 to 1750. There are examples, though, from as early as the 12th century and as late as the 19th, right up until the arrival of the British. They were crafted by artists under royal decree, who formed special guilds at the court of the oba in Benin City, the capital of the kingdom. The more powerful the ruler, the more artists there were and the higher the quality of the pieces being made.

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?