420 Chapter 15
Benin Bronzes
Benin is famous for its bronze and brass sculptures. Benin sculpture was
made by guilds controlled by the king. One of the main functions of
Benin art was to please the ruler by recording his history or by displaying
his power. For instance, brass plaques commemorating the ruler’s great
achievements adorned the palace walls. Busts of the ruler and his family
showed them as idealized figures.
RESEARCH LINKSFor more on Benin art,
go to classzone.com
Queen Mother
Perhaps the most widely known type of Benin
sculpture was the royal head, such as this one.
In Benin, the Queen Mother held a lot of
power. To symbolize that power, she wore
a woven crown called a “chicken’s beak.”▲Plaque
Plaques such as this
decorated the palace of
the Oba, or ruler, of Benin▲