Fine unique and rare large hand sculpted king Ife Clay/ Terracotta Oba head Edo People Nigeria African 13 inches H. x 7 inches W x 7.75 " d This exquisite hand made Clay /Terracotta head is a fine example of one of the most famous traditions in world history. The details on this head are stunning, from the splendid facial expression, to the detailed rendering of its formal crown. One can only imagine the true splendor of the old court of Ife. This clay-modeled head is of an Oba, the ruler at Benin, of a lineage that continues today. This head is based upon bronze examples that are noted for their details of representation.the attention paid to the hair and the shaping of the face all reflect the skill of artist who in the past would have modeled the mold for the bronze heads. That this is a vintage replica cannot be doubted, but what is important to note is that the skill of the Nigerian artist of today in shaping this head continuing a tradition nearly 500 years old at Benin and who have not lost their skill in producing interesting works of art