Tracing overlapping influences of history and culture in everyday life, Florence Benson’s collection features a myriad of cultural artifacts such as bronze works hailing from the Ife and Benin Kingdoms of present day Nigeria, contemporary paintings by Nigerian and Ghanaian artists and indigenous sculpture and wood carvings from across West Africa.
Offering a visual reserve on traditional and contemporary African art throughout the ages, “Capsule”, presents a multitude of shared experiences across our collective histories. Each piece boasts of authenticity in its accurate depictions of various segments of African history and society.
Benson’s collection presents potential collectors and patrons with the unique opportunity to preserve and promote a version of living history, picking up the mantle to promote African narratives on culture and identity.
The featured image is a work by Amon Kotei, a distinguished Ghanaian painter and ceramist known for his emotive pastel portraits and scenic landscape paintings. Kotei also designed the 1957 Ghanaian National Coat of Arms now used on all official government letterheads.
The Capsule collection consists of works from internationally recognised figures such as artist Ablade Glover, one of Ghana’s frontier artists and educators, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Ini Brown and Abiodun Olaku among others.
About the Collector: Mrs. Florence Benson
Mrs. Florence Benson is a pioneering gallerist and collector who worked across UK, Ghana and Nigeria over 3 decades. Spanning the entire sub-region, her collection, “Capsule”, is an amalgamation of her lived experiences with the rich culture and history of the unique pieces. Benson, though retired from the gallery business continues to collect contemporary art from both old and young artists across the globe playing her part in preserving culture and tradition. In 2012, part of her collection was displayed in an exhibition-Slice of History at Nubuke Foundation.
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Unknown Artist
Ere Ibeji
Wood and metal armlets
26.5 cm
$ 200.00
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Unknown Artist
Dan Mask
Wood and leather
28 cm
$ 400.00
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Unknown Artist
Senufo - Kpelie mask of the Senufo people
Wood
33 cm
$ 400.00
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Unknown Artist
Benin Bronze Warrior
Bronze
38 cm
$ 1000.00
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Unknown Artist
Nimba statue
Wood, bead, cowries and bronze
40 cm
$ 500.00
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Unknown Artist
Tada seated figure
Bronze
49.5 cm
$ 1,500.00
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Unknown Artist
Guro Mask
Wood
40 cm
$ 400.00
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Unknown Artist
Dogon maternity figure
Wood
41 cm
$ 350.00
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Unknown Artist
Lady on shrine
Wood and cowries
49 cm
$ 400.00
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Unknown Artist
Oba heads
Bronze
17.5 cm/14 cm
$ 800.00
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Unknown Artist
Mossi dolls from Burkina Faso (male and female)
Wood
37 cm / 30.5 cm
$ 300.00
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Unknown Artist
Kuduo
Bronze
24.5cm
$ 900.00
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Unknown Artist
African Colonial Statues (male and female)
Wood and oil paint
29 cm / 28 cm
$ 240
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Unknown Artist
Bakota (Kota) Mahongwe Reliquary Figure
Wood and bronze
42 cm
$ 750.00
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Unknown Artist
Ashanti mask
Wood, brass and leather
29 cm
$ 400.00
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Unknown Artist
Benin Bronze plaque
Bronze
39.5 cm
$ 400.00
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Unknown Artist
Ere Ibeji
Wood, cloth, metal armlets and strings of cowries
20 cm
$ 200.00
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Unknown Artist
Ere Ibeji
Wood, cloth, beads and strings of cowries.
27 cm
$ 200.00
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Unknown Artist
Ere Ibeji
Wood, metal armlets and strings of cowries
22 cm
$ 200.00
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Unknown Artist
Chiwara male and female antelopes
Wood, fabric and cowries
120 cm
$ 250.00
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Unknown Artist
Ere Ibeji
Wood, cloth, beads and strings of cowries.
23.5 cm
$ 200.00
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Unknown Artist
Benin Brass Cat
Bronze
48 cm
$ 4500.00
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Unknown Artist
The farmer
Bronze
38.5 cm
$ 500.00
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Unknown Artist
Lady fetching water
Bronze
34.5 cm
$ 500.00
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