MEANING, THEMES AND MESSAGES

THE USE of THEMES to declare awareness of trials and travails.

(more on this soon)

IMAGE:

18th/19th century Helmet, Benin Empire The Benin Arts motif of endless interlocking marks lace the lower part or base of the helmet. Spread along the vertical side towards the top is the recurring theme of ‘Bird of Prophecy’. Here the bird of prophesy is actively attacking a snake-like form also positioned at the top and which may or may not be an extension of the frontal ram-horse head that is, like the base of the helmet, decorated at the mouth with motifs of endless interlocking marks. The horse-like or ram headed frontal piece also carries decorative pair of horns. What trials are being pointed to here? 

A later era piece, this helmet was attributed to Ife by the Brits or some indifferent curator. In terms of the British it was usual practice for them to mis-attribute Benin Arts to Ife as part of the propaganda to erase the Benin Kingdom and its history as paramount native African kingdom. 

There is no record of carbon dating to be found anywhere online, so our guess is that this helmet is not in the possession of our German friends aka 'private dealership' who, from our observation, and surely for their business or lucrative motives, are eager to provide dating for the #BeninBronzes in their possession.

Our guess is that this is a helmet from the 19th to the early 20th century, probably sold or even nicked out of Benin City during the era of the so-called 'colonial period' when Nigeria was already created.

...

-- to be continued /

Estimated date: 19th century Current location: unknown May or may not be part of the loot of 1897