The style of these natuarlistic sculptures probably originated. Seventeen of these life like heads were accidentally found in the wunmonije compound in southwestern nigeria by several archaeologists during the time of more housing construction in that area. Such sculptures such as this was very unqiue to the culture of african art.
The ife head probably represents an ooni which means king. Ife began to develop as a city state in the late first millennium. The sculptures from ife are now rightly seen as one of the highest achievements of african art and culture.
It was even suggested that these heads were evidence that ife was the site of the legendary lost civilization of atlantis as described by the greek philosopher plato. On view at the. The rediscovery of ife heads at the beginning of the 20th century overturned assumptions about the sophistication of african art head possibly a king 12th 14th century.
See more ideas about african art african sculptures african masks. Apr 22 2017 explore gilmarillion s board ife heads followed by 159 people on pinterest. The heads were made from the 11th to 15th century ce according to chemical analysis.
The metal sculptures of naturalistic and life size human heads for which ife is today most famous are so masterfully executed that when europeans discovered them they could not believe that ancient black africans had made such masterpieces. It was probably made in the thirteenth fourteenth century ad before any european contact had taken place with the local population. It is believed to represent a king.
The bronze head from ife or ife head is one of eighteen copper alloy sculptures that were unearthed in 1938 at ife in nigeria the religious and former royal centre of the yoruba people.
