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Comments

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  Eva Baby September 23, 2011 at 9:44pm

  is this from Nigeria?
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  elmamoun ben sabek September 24, 2011 at 10:36am

  yes it is
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  Ann Porteus September 24, 2011 at 11:23am

  Hi again Eva,
  The original of this is a very old Ivory carving from Benin city. All of the various components have their meanings. I am at home with no reference but Have a look at http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/a...
  I think it will lead you to an interesting info trail. I had a beautiful old copy years ago and sold it. I've regretted it ever since.
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  Eva Baby September 24, 2011 at 11:29am

  @Ann: I remember having seen similar masks, therefore, I assumed it was from Nigeria (but sometimes one can be wrong..). Will look at the link, thanks anyway.
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  Eva Baby September 24, 2011 at 11:32am

  @Ann:again, I have just looked at the link, thanks, very interesting. However, I do not understand one thing (geographically): it says: "Edo peoples, probably 16th century AD, From Benin, Nigeria". Benin is another country, why it says "Benin, Nigeria". Did they live in both countries, or is there a city named Benin in Nigeria? Perhaps I should look at a map first...
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  elmamoun ben sabek September 24, 2011 at 11:38am

  if they say benin it mean the old empire of benin there borther was untel senegal now so when they say benin ,negeria it mean negeria as a part of the old empire of benin
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  Eva Baby September 24, 2011 at 11:45am

  @elmamoun, thank you for the information. I understand now. (Like Mali, which was once empire Mali, once empire Sonrai, and had different sizes and borders to todays country).
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  elmamoun ben sabek September 24, 2011 at 11:53am

  you are welcome any time eva we are here to help each other .and you know more than me about many pieces and cultuire also so thank to you to share with me your experience
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  Ann Porteus September 24, 2011 at 12:06pm

  Hi eva, This is one that we all are confused by when looking at the map of Africa. Benin is a very small country between Togo and Nigeria.
  Benin city is a state or region in Nigeria which was the heart of the Benin Empire. The history especially the war with Britain makes interesting reading. Especially the history of pieces like this and the bronzes which were stolen as the fruit of war to pay the British cost of their war with Benin. Once they recouped their cost of war they sole a few extra then saved remaining bronzes for the British Museum. Have a look at wikipedia or many other sites online.
  The original ivory carving is just too beautiful. The head ornaments represent the Portugese who traded in Benin for centuries before. Read all about it and don't let me distort your enjoyment with the story. My memory is sometimes skewed.
  There is just a couple of streets to visit in the old city in Hanoi to find beautiful things. There is not a lot available but in the right place there are half a dozen shops. Let me know if you need to travel there or want to send the girls in the right direction. Your daughters must be very beautiful. Tall, slender and part Thai. They will still be recognized as foreigners in Vietnam! aPle is my Tai daughter when in Australia. in Thailand she is the daughter of her true birth parents. She complained a lot about being treated as a foreigner in Hanoi. She was just working there for a few days with her employer. Her mother is from a southern Chinese family.
  That is another story. Migration and the distribution of varying cultures. These people always treated as minority immigrants but offering so much for the rest of our world to share. People never want to listen when they feel threatened by different cultures. Sad.
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  rameshwaroop arts October 1, 2011 at 4:26pm

  nice item