Figure: Equestrian
Unknown Artist
12th–16th century
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
H. 1 3/8 × W. 2 in. (3.5 × 5.1 cm)
Classification
Metal-Sculpture
Culture
Middle Niger civilization
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of John B. Elliott, 1997
Accession Number
1999.47.89
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite copper alloy sculpture, titled *Figure: Equestrian*,ails from the Middle Niger in West Africa, dating to the 12th–16th centuries. Standing just 1 3/8 inches tall 2 inches wide, diminutive metalwork captures a rider astride a horse—a rare and prestigious motif in the region. Crafted through sophisticated lost-wax casting techniques typical of ancient African metallurgy, the figure's smooth, patinated surface highlights the artisans' mastery in manipulating copper alloys for durability and expressive detail. In the Middle Niger culture, centered around the Inland Niger Delta (mod...