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Why did Ife artists cast some sculptures in unalloyed copper?
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African art
Raffia-fiber cloth, made by the Kuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, mid-20th century; in the Honolulu Academy of Arts.
Ife artists occasionally cast sculptures in unalloyed copper, despite the material being technically unsuitable for casting, for two primary reasons:
- Demonstrating Virtuosity: It is believed that the smiths may have chosen this challenging material specifically to showcase their exceptional technical skill and mastery of the lost-wax process.1
- Lack of Awareness: It is also possible that the artisans were simply unaware that unalloyed copper was not the ideal medium for casting, as they more frequently utilized zinc brasses for their work.1
Notable masterpieces created using this method include the seated figure found in a shrine at Tada and the Obalufon mask held in the Ife Museum.1