Galerie Peter Herrmann |
- | Ancient Art from Africa |
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| Thermoluminescence - Expertise | Businessman |
| soon | Benin, Nigeria |
| Edited in the net since january 2026 |
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| Description |
There are always surprises. At the beginning of 2026, this statue was acquired from the old collection of a deceased antiquarian. At first glance, I guessed it was a Dutch businessman, but I am no longer sure, as the style of clothing could also be Portuguese. |
In his right hand, the man holds a three-pronged spear, part of which is broken off. His shirt is buttoned in the European style and a Christian cross hangs from his chain. The shackle held in the bearded man's left hand is a reference to him as a businessman. In this context, it is important to point out a constantly recurring misrepresentation in the press. This shackle is not a bracelet, as is often described, but has this shape so that it could be stacked on firmly anchored bars on ships. This had the advantage that the heavy load could not slip. Recently, it has been presented as if it were a completely new discovery that the metals purchased in Nigeria at that time came from Germany. Always with an undertone that this meant that Germany was indirectly complicit in the slave trade. |
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Female scholars of the humanities seek patriarchal guilt on the part of old white men. Often at the expense of a historiography freed from morality. But it is neither guilt nor a new insight. As early as 1900, Felix von Luschan, director of the Berlin Museum, searched delivery lists from the Port of Hamburg for mined origin and quantity. It would be interesting to know who these traders were honoured by at the turn of the century around 1800, as they or their status were immortalised in what was then a very expensive material. The material from Europe increased in value because it was further alloyed with local metals such as zinc in Nigeria to make it optimally usable for lost casting. This also explains the tiny proportion of aluminium, which is common as bauxite in West Africa. The shoes and trousers under the skirt could provide clues as to the dealer's origin. Because of many such details, this excellently crafted figure is of art-historical significance. |
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| Translated with DeepL.com (free version) |
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