The museum
has commissioned the bronze caster Phil Omodamwen to recast one of the Benin
artefacts for this exhibition. This is an opportunity for us to learn about
bronze casting skills, Benin culture, and how acquisitions based on mutual
consent can inform our work as a museum today.
Phil
Omodamwen is a sixth generation bronze caster in Benin City who learned this
skill from his father. His family belong to the Bronze-casting Guild Igun Eronmwon, who are responsible for
producing royal objects. Today, however, the casters also work for the market
and create new genres of objects and designs.
However,
the production process is the same as in the past. The desired motif is
modelled in wax over a clay core, and this mould is then covered with clay. The
wax is melted out and the resulting cavity is filled with molten metal. The
metal used today is often scrap metal.