Mask of Ìyọ́bà Idià (c. 16th century), One Minute Art

Mask of Ìyọ́bà Idià
(c. 16th century)

This ivory mask is about 500 years old, made in the early years of Portugal’s trade relations with African coastal communities.

It was one of a pair of nearly identical pieces, about 24 centimeters tall. (23.8 x 12.7 x 6.4 cm) And it has survived quite well, all things considered.

The mask was commissioned by the prosperous King of Benin, Ẹsìgie, in honor of his mother, Idià. It’s her face on this mask, idealized and timeless, with her nostrils flared and lips slightly parted. The two vertical lines above her eyes are decorative scar marks—a symbol of beauty at the time.

The King owed his success in large part to his mother, and he created the title Ìyọ́bà, Queen Mother, in her honor.

Admire the detail on her nearly intact collar, and on her head. Those figures are mudfish, a symbol of the Kings of Benin—they live on land and in the water, just as the King was said to be part human and part divine.

This mask was probably made near the end of the Queen Mother’s life, and may have been worn by the King at rituals celebrating his mother.

Her lineage can be traced through the centuries to the present day.

What do you think of this mask?

Видео Mask of Ìyọ́bà Idià (c. 16th century), One Minute Art канала Jon Lott