Small Fon bronze depicting a drum. It once formed part of an iron ‘Asen’ altar which has disintegrated long ago. Placed in family shrines, such altars became the focus of interaction with the ancestors. Very often human altar figures were flanked by animals or cherished objects just like this drum. The bronze dates from early 20th century. Ouidah Fon culture. Benin. West Africa. Height 4.8 cm. Width 3.5 cm.