97 - Chieftain on His Throne

Chieftain on His Throne Hardwood, old brown patina, traces of ritual splashes, signs of use, wear, and cracks. Igala, Nigeria. Early 20th century. H: 94.5 cm Provenance: Former Karl-Ferdinand Schaedler Collection. Millon Belgium auction, Brussels, May 28, 2018, lot 138. Publication: Siebe Rossel and Arnold Wentholt (eds.), Tribal Treasures in Dutch Private Collections, AFdH, 2008, reproduced full-page on p. 94. Exhibition: Van Verre Volken Thuis. Kunst in de kamer, Afrika Museum, Berg en Dal, Netherlands, October 4, 2008–January 4, 2009. This chief is seated on a circular throne, with engraved decoration around the rim, supported by a central base. He sits upright, his hands framing his navel. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a rounded crown, his face is adorned with subtle scarifications that accentuate his temples and forehead. The verticality of the torso, the elongated legs, and the simplicity of the forms lend the figure a solemn posture. The intricately carved seat, the headdress, and the figure’s hieratic bearing indicate a high rank, while the purity of the forms reinforces his presence and dignity. The Igala live on the eastern bank of the Niger River, south of its confluence with the Benue. They formed an ancient kingdom, ruled from Idah by a sacred king, the Ata, who ensured the country’s prosperity. As farmers, fishermen, and traders along the rivers, they maintained close ties with their neighbors, including the kingdoms of Benin and the Jukun. General Bibliography: John S. Boston, *The Igala Kingdom*, Ibadan, Oxford University Press for the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, 1968. François Neyt, in collaboration with Andrée Désirant, *Les Arts de la Benue aux racines des traditions: Nigeria*, 1985. John Boston, “Igala Masquerades and Figure Sculpture,” in Marla C. Berns, Richard Fardon, and Sidney Littlefield Kasfir (eds.), *Central Nigeria Unmasked: Arts of the Benue River Valley*, Los Angeles, Fowler Museum at UCLA, 2011.