African Arts Gallery

Subject depicting a dwarf, or "madman", which appeared in the 15th century in the king's entourage, and were intended not only for diversion, but also for surveillance. Occult gifts were also attributed to them. According to Fagg, these figures were also acrobats and illusionists. This type of bronze sculpture must have adorned the altars of the ancestors.
Brown patina. In African art, Benin art is described as court art because it is closely associated with the king, or Oba.

Before the destruction of the palace of the kingdom of Benin in 1897, the divine character of the kings, the Oba, was illustrated by multiple codified works celebrating their power. Warlike scenes glorifying them were reproduced on narrative plaques, in bronze, and affixed to the walls. Sumptuous bronze altars, commemorative figures of deceased chiefs, majestic felines, heavy bracelets, anklets and recades were produced in quantity in numerous foundry workshops using the lost wax casting technique. The art of lost wax casting reaches its perfection through the representation of these scenes describing life in the palace. (Benin, ed.Snoeck)