This is a bronze head of an oba (ruler) of Benin (in Nigeria) made probably sometime during the 18th or the 19th century. It would have been part of a group of sculptured figures which were placed on the funerary shrine of the ruler which they represented. There are actually much nicer examples (some of which are displayed here in Philadelphia in the museum at the University of Pennsylvania), but I was unable to locate any images of them on the internet. The majority of the works similar to this one stand 2-3ft in height, and often had a recepticle on top of the head to hold a large elephant tusk which would often have a series of carvings depicting legendary tales or events. Most of these pieces, along with many other fine examples of Benin craftsmanship, were stolen by the British during the Punitive Expedition of 1897.