Benin Bronzes & the Royal Court Casting Tradition
贝宁青铜失蜡与宫廷作坊传统
标签：贝宁青铜器, 失蜡法, 西非, 宫廷作坊, 行会
尼日利亚贝宁王国（今埃多州贝宁城）13 世纪起的皇家失蜡作坊以纪念头像与浮雕饰板闻名：匠人以黏土塑芯、敷蜡雕刻，外覆第二层黏土范一次浇注，合金多为黄铜（含锌约 10–15%，检出的铁杂质显示大量使用回炉金属）。Igun Eronmwon 铸匠行会延续至今，由首领 Ine Nigba 主持年祭。大英博物馆藏品显示其壁厚仅 2–4 mm、纹饰浇后几乎不再加工，说明范面雕刻精度极高，被誉为失蜡法叙事浮雕的顶峰。
The royal lost-wax workshops of the Kingdom of Benin (Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria) have made commemorative heads and relief plaques since the 13th century: clay cores are modeled, wax carved over them, a second clay mold applied, and the whole cast in one pour — mostly brass with 10–15% Zn, its iron impurities betraying heavy scrap recycling. The Igun Eronmwon guild of casters still works today under its head, the Ine Nigba. British Museum pieces show walls only 2–4 mm thick with casts needing almost no chasing, testimony to the precision of the mold-face carving.
