Scroll down for everything you need to know about this piece: dimensions, sustainability, and more
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This African oni queen in polished bronze is a larger than life-sized bronze head of an African ONI Queen of the (IFE) YORUBA people. The queen has a serene expression on her face.
History
These sculptures were traditionally made in the IFE region in Africa, a region that was formerly the royal and religious centre of the Yoruba people.
The ONI head is crafted with distinctive vertical lines. The bronze sculpture has been polished to give it its golden glow. These streaks represent the facial scarification which are characteristic of the ‘classic’ period of the art of IFE. The holes on the neck are to attach the mask to a wooden dummy for exhibitions to the public during ceremonies. In the Yoruba tradition, these grooves on the neck were considered a sign of beauty.
Dimensions
Width: 18 cm / 7 inches
Length: 26.5cm / 10.4 inches
Height: 33 cm / 13 inches
Weight: 1.8kg / 4 pounds
This is a modern production
Sustainability
Our bronze sculptures are made from upcycled metals such as old pipelines. Our craftsmen and women collect this scrap waste which they then put in an oven at very high temperatures. Once the scrap waste pieces melt, the new raw material is ready to be used. We then use this virgin material to make our bronze sculptures. As bronze is a very eco and labour intensive material to mine, we feel it makes much more sense to reuse the material that has already been created than to extract it – again. By doing so we are trying to close at least one waste loop.
Transparency & Who made it
Lastly, when it comes to our working conditions, we work exclusively with Indonesian craftsmen and women on both Bali and Java. This African ONI Queen in polished bronze specifically, was made in Java, Indonesia. All of our craftsmen and women get paid a living wage that exceeds what the Indonesian Law requires. Their income is enough for a comfortable home, food, education, ceremonies, and more.
Questions?
Finally, if you still have any questions about the African ONI Queen in polished bronze, feel free to reach out to us via Whatsapp + 31 6 17123402 or email info@sooka.com and we will get back to you shortly.
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