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Altar (Asen)

A work made of iron.

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  • A work made of iron.

Date:

20th century

Artist:

Fon
Ouidah, Benin
Coastal West Africa

About this artwork

Among the Fon people of the coastal city of Ouidah in Benin, master artists created a distinguished style of altars known as asen. Crafted from forged iron, they comprise a tall rod that supports a large cone-shaped platform that holds forged and cutout iron figurines commemorating the persons for whose spirit they were intended. Such memorial sculptures express the interdependence of the living and the dead. Compared to newspaper obituaries or tombstone inscriptions, the complex design and dense iconography of their scenic tableaus bear imagery that refers to the ancestor’s profession, his religious beliefs, or his family. Blending visual and verbal art forms, proverbs and puns in the image’s details often confuse interpretations for outsiders. Accompanied by members of his family, the central seated figure with his chiefly attire and attributes most likely represents a person of rank and authority. The animals represent sacrificial offerings or simply refer to proverbs.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Fon

Title

Altar (Asen)

Place

Benin (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1900–1999

Medium

Iron

Dimensions

185.4 × 38.1 cm (73 × 15 in.)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by Jane Stroud Wright in honor of Douglas Dawson

Reference Number

2017.256

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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