Explanation

Cire-Perdue, also called lost-wax casting, is a bronze sculpting technique. Ile-Ife is famous for this method, creating beautiful bronze and brass sculptures centuries ago.

Ile-Ife artists perfected this technique to make realistic human heads and figures. The ancient Ife bronzes are considered masterpieces of African art.

While Benin also uses bronze casting, Ile-Ife is where Cire-Perdue technique reached its highest artistic achievement in Nigeria. The Ife bronzes influenced Benin art later.