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.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of Africa
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Culture
- Fon
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Title
- Altar (Asen)
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Place
- Benin (Object made in)
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Date
- Made 1900–1999
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Medium
- Iron
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Dimensions
- 185.4 × 38.1 cm (73 × 15 in.)
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Credit Line
- Purchased with funds provided by Jane Stroud Wright in honor of Douglas Dawson
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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.
