IN A WORLD WITHOUT CASTINGS


Would the Legends of African Kings Live On?


investment castings from the Benin Empire in what is now southern Nigeria created between the 13th


Te Benin Bronzes are a collection of more than a thousand and 18th


centuries. Te


relief plaques often celebrated a particular “oba” (king) in court or warriors following victory in battle. Te finely produced artworks didn’t receive international ac-


claim until 1897, when Britain, the imperial occupiers at the time, removed hundreds of pieces. Te Benin Bronzes—something of a misnomer because many of the pieces are brass or other alloys— changed European views toward African culture and art. Naively imperialistic perceptions led many to believe Africans were incapable of such achievements, an assumption that proved false when research showed indigenous technological advancements led to the intricate castings.


18 | MODERN CASTING December 2015


Photographs by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net).


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