African Art Flashcards
What is the Ife sculpture made of
Bronze
How tall is the Ife sculpture
40 cm tall
What does the Ife sculpture do
If honours the king, head of the Yobuta tribes.
What I soften the case in African sculptures
The proportions are often exaggerated symbolically.
Why was the Ife sculptures head enlarged
To indicate intelligence and leadership.
What method is used with the Ife sculpture
The lost wax method
What is the lost wax method
It is a method whereby a wax figure is constructed. A clay mould is then made, and when dry is heated to remove the wax. Molten metal is then poured into the mould
How fed the ife sculpture contrast with the geometric carved African figures
The Ife sculpture has a more naturalistically rounded face and figure because it was made in soft wax.
How is a king depicted in Ife sculptures
He displays a symbolic headpiece and decorative jewellery befitting of royalty
What does the formal, symmetric portrait of a queen demonstrate
It demonstrates the peak reached by the Benin sculptors in the 16th century.
What method would have been used to construct the sculpture of the queen
The lost wax method
Why would the lost wax nights have been used
To create the 3D rounded features.
What is the queen wear in on her head
A high cone-like headdress with a woven pattern on it created by plaited hair
What is worn around the queen’s neck
A tight choker enclave probably typical of her tribal customs
What does the foot price of the queen show
Is shows images of fish
What does the queen’s face show
It shows serenity and a composed expression.
What is the expression on the queen’s face similar to
Faces Serb in renaissance art
How tall is the sculpture from central Africa
About 35cm
Where is the sculpture from central Africa found
Bear the Congo river previously known as Zaire
What two facts must be remembered when looking at the date of the sculpture from central Africa
The sculpture was made out of wood which does not last long ( neither do clay or woven objects). Secondly, although the rest of the world might have been developing rapidly, there were many people how were not.
What did the sculpture from central Africa most likely a repository for
The soul of a deceased noble woman.she would have been regarded as a power figure and the tribal people would pray to her and offer gifts.
What are some various characteristics seen on the sculpture from central Africa
The features tend to be geometric and simplifies
The head is enlarged showing spirituality
The body is small as it is less important
The baby is symbolically offered
The brass decorations are geometric
What is the large head in the sculpture from central Africa represent
Spirituality
What does the small body in the sculpture from central Africa represent
The unimportance of the body.
What are power figures
They are carved wooded sculptures that have bred imbued with spiritual power by a ritual specialist
What kind of ingredients can be found in power figures
Herbal medicine, animal parts, pieces of metal and a variety of fibres
What were the ingredients in the power figures designed to do
Attract and concentrate spiritual power within the figure to intensify their strength
What were most of the power figures created to do
The added very specific issues, such as healing, divination, protection o oath taking.
Who were the power figures created for
Most of the power figures were created for an individual who may share those powers with others. Some however were intended to serve an entire community, promoting a more general state of well-being
Why were African masks created
To play an important role in a ritual or ceremony.
What was the purpose of the African masks
Frighten people away from having secret meetings
Represent special ancestors or spirits in a festival or ritual