The Story Behind Our Benin Bronzes

A large Benin bronze leopard, cast by the Edo people of the Kingdom of Benin in Nigeria

Some of the most striking pieces in our collection aren't plants at all — they're bronze. Our Benin Bronzes are handcrafted by the Edo people, continuing a tradition that stretches back centuries in the Kingdom of Benin, in what is now Nigeria. Our pieces range from recent castings to vintage finds 30 years and older.

A living craft tradition

The original Benin Bronzes — court treasures, plaques and royal portraits made for the Kingdom of Benin from as early as the 13th century — are some of the most celebrated metalwork in African history, and many now sit in museum collections around the world, a history that's still the subject of ongoing repatriation discussions. The pieces we sell are a different, living branch of that same story: bronzes cast by Edo artisans using the traditional methods passed down through generations, rather than those historic antique originals. Some of our pieces are recent castings, while others are vintage, cast more than 30 years ago — either way, none are the disputed museum antiques themselves.

The lost-wax method

Every piece is cast using lost-wax casting, one of the oldest metalworking techniques in the world. A model is first sculpted in wax, then encased in clay. The clay mould is heated until the wax inside melts and runs out — "lost" — leaving a hollow cavity in its exact shape. Molten bronze is then poured into that cavity, and once it cools, the clay is broken away to reveal the finished casting.

Because the clay mould is broken to release the casting, no two pieces are ever quite the same — each bronze is genuinely one of a kind.

What the symbols mean

Benin bronzes are rich with symbolism, much of it tied to the Oba, the kingdom's ruler. The leopard is one of the most enduring motifs — a symbol of royal power, long associated with the Oba's authority and often kept as a court emblem. Bronze heads, meanwhile, historically captured the likeness and status of kings and queen mothers, and were treasured for both the skill of the casting and the value of the metal itself, which functioned almost as a form of currency. Warrior figures speak to the kingdom's military history, each one individually worked with fine surface detail.

Bringing one into your home

A single bronze face or head works well as a quiet, grounding object on a shelf or console — let it stand alone rather than competing with other decor. The larger leopard sculptures and standing figures make a genuine statement piece on a plinth or mantel, where the detail of the casting can catch the light. Because every piece is individually cast, sizes vary slightly from one to the next, so it's worth choosing yours by eye.

A VINTAGE bronze HEAD & TWO TALLER SCULPTURES styled on a console, alongside plants and WOODEN BOWL

Each piece is one of a kind, cast by hand using a tradition centuries in the making.

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