Portion - universityofafricanart.org

visual and verbal expressive forms, and from the depth of his judgment, the goblet failed
the test of form and function. Queen Isabella’s wine won, and his own sculpture lost the
competition. I have been disgraced by my favorite sculptor, he concluded. I should have
him put to death at once if I was as wicked a ruler as they say.
He was hardly listening to Alfonso who was describing the beauty, grace,
intelligence, economic power, and political influence of Queen Isabella, not only in
Castile, but throughout Europe. As Alfonso spoke, the European sailor sipped liquor from
an ivory goblet carved by Ekewan, a blind carver. It was Oba Eghosa’s favorite liquor
goblet, and he intentionally gave it to Alfonso to flaunt the skill of Benin artists.
“This trophy is great,” Alfonso says, looking closely at the ivory goblet from
which he was drinking. “Queen Isabella would love to have a couple of these for the
entertainment of her special guests. I would like to order two dozens of these for her,
whatever the cost.”
“It shall cost you nothing,” Eghosa boasted. “They shall be a special gift from
me to the beautiful Queen Isabella.” He made a sign, hardly moving his wrist, and an
attendant knelt in front of his throne. Because he was such a tiny man, King Eghosa’s
legs dangled; they did not even touch the head of the leopard placed as a footstool at the
base of his throne. The tall attendant bent down so his ear was exactly level to the rapidly
whispering lips of the king. By dawn, twenty-four ivory goblet masterpieces by Ekewan
the Blind were removed from the royal storage and carefully packaged for the journey
to Spain. Another goblet with a cover was separately presented to the Evil King. His
eyes lit up when he saw the covered goblet, because he knew it was in the hand of Ipaye,
his favorite sculptor. He received the ivory cup in his hands, opened it and placed it to
his lips, his fingers caressing the intricate lines etched into the trophy by the hand of his