Nigerian Royal Portrait Head

A small cat's face at her crown, whisker-like lines at her mouth, and no hurry.

This royal portrait head, depicting a Queen Mother, is terra cotta from the Benin Kingdom, Nigeria, West Africa, 20th century. In the Benin court, the queen mother, or Iyoba, holds one of the highest titles, and she has long been honored in commemorative heads. Here the face is round and smooth, with outlined eyes and full lips. Fine curved lines fan out from both sides of the mouth. A long ornament drops from the feline mask to the center of the forehead. Bands ring the neck, and the dark surface shows reddish tones. Nineteen inches high.

Her expression gives away very little.