Sooka Bronze African Benin Leopard
A Sooka bronze African Benin Leopard sculpture. This set has been handcrafted with much eye for detail by our crafts(wo)men in Java, Indonesia.
Inspiration
The Benin people of Nigeria believe that the Benin leopard is a symbol of Justice as well as a powerful beast that has royal qualities. The leopard is thought to reign over the Savannah as a king does over his subjects. We find this symbolism truly brilliant.
About the collection
We looked to Alkebulan as our inspiration for this collection. Alkebulan translates to Ancient Africa. In Alkebulan, many craftsmen translated the surroundings, people and animals they worshipped into gorgeous design objects. It was customary to depict famous figures in bronze figurines. One of them was the ONI Queen, an important figure for the Yoruba people. Another example is the Benin Leopard, seen as a majestic and powerful creature.
Dimensions
Width: 7.5 cm / 3 inches
Heigth: 27.5 cm / 11 inches
Length: 30 cm / 12 inches
Weight: 1.3 kgs / 3 pounds
This is a modern production
Sustainability
Our bronze sculptures, including this bronze African Benin Leopard sculpture, are made from upcycled metals such as old pipelines. Our craftsmen and women collect this scrap waste which they then put in an oven at very high temperatures. Once the scrap waste pieces melt, the new raw material is ready to be used. We then use this virgin material to make our bronze sculptures. As bronze is a very eco and labour intensive material to mine, we feel it makes much more sense to reuse the material that has already been created than to extract it – again.
Who made it
Lastly, when it comes to our working conditions, we work exclusively with Indonesian craftsmen and women on both Bali and Java. This piece specifically was made in Java, Indonesia. All of our craftsmen and women get paid a living wage that exceeds what the Indonesian Law requires. Their income is enough for a comfortable home, food, education, ceremonies, and more.
Delivery
Europe- Expected average transit time in business days: 4 – 8 days
Worldwide (excluding Europe) Expected average transit time in business days: 4 – 14 days
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes we do.
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Each brand has there own size guides which can often be found in the product description. We also have our own general size guide available on each product.