Title: Head of Lajuwa
Artist/Culture: Ife Style
Medium: Bronze (Lost-wax casting)
Provenance: Private Collection, Omorogbe Aigbe, Benin City
This bronze-cast head represents Lajuwa, who seized the throne of Ife after the passing of Oni Aworo-kolokin. Rendered in the classical Ife style, the sculpture features a serene, stylized human face with closed eyes, full lips, and a broad nose. The head is crowned with an elaborate headdress adorned with intricate beadwork, a central pointed ornament, and a feather- or leaf-like crest at the top. A raised circular mark on the forehead may denote royal or spiritual significance. The richly textured surface, layered with oxidized patina, evokes both the passage of time and the enduring dignity of the figure. The elongated neck further emphasizes its regal bearing, highlighting the refinement and symbolism typical of Ife courtly art.
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