Antic Mahogany Okpe King's Head Carving
Good day dear friends of Xpilar community. Today I present you with a three centuries old antic wood carving of an Okpe King's head from southern Nigeria.
The Okpe Kingdom is a part of the Urhobo speaking people of Delta State of Nigeria. This particular antic is of the first Okpe Monarch, Esezi the first of Okpe Kingdom. The Okpe people are amongst the last migrants of Urhobo people to emigrate out of the ancient Benin Kingdom.
King Esezi actually was in lead of the Exodus from the Benin Kingdom into central Delta State heavily populated by the Urhobo speaking people.
I took this photograph on a visit to the present day palace of the Orodje(King) of Okpe Kingdom. Find below side and back views and close up of same photograph.
Side view
Back view
Close up
These types of wooding carvings I was reliably informed by a Palace Chief of the present Okpe Monarch dates back hundreds of years. I learned they were mostly made from mahogany or oak. The process involves felling the tree and soaking up the trunk by submerging it below water in a slow moving stream for no less than ten years. This process makes the trunks less flaky to the Carver's implement and it bestows on the finished product a perfectly dark ebony shade.
You might also want to take note of the phallic like piece that completes the King's crown. It actually depicts an erect manhood symbolic of the qualities of virility and propagation. A kingly trait as opposed to that of eunuchs whom oftentimes were slaves of the king.
I do hope you enjoyed viewing my ancient carving pictures accompanied by the informative literature. Bye for now friends until next time I bring you an interesting piece of art.
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