Ife Head

The naturalistic copper-alloy heads were discovered in 1938 at the Wunmonije Compound in Ife, Nigeria. This remarkable find drastically shifted Western understanding of African art history by revealing an incredibly refined level of naturalism.

The heads were created by the Yoruba people of the medieval Kingdom of Ife between the 12th and 14th centuries. They are widely believed to be royal portraits depicting the sacred king, or Ooni, of Ife.

Many of the famous Ife heads were created using a highly sophisticated lost-wax casting technique utilizing copper alloy. The inclusion of brass and copper highlights the extensive trans-Saharan trade networks active during that era.

The symmetrical vertical lines covering the faces of the sculptures likely represent traditional scarification marks or the idealized beauty standards of the Yoruba people. The inclusion of a crown or halo-like crest on top indicates the figure's royal status.