Rare and very beautiful African bronze piece, handcrafted in Dahomey, Benin. Lost-wax bronze, gilded, brown and pink, very detailed, on a rectangular dark wood base. Vintage 20th century circa 1940-1970. The subject depicts a hunting scene, featuring a character, a hunter, gilded, wielding a brown axe, and a beast standing on its hind legs, gilded, mouth open and sticking out a pink tongue, one front paw resting on the chest of the hunter, possibly a cheetah, lioness, or hyena. Dynamic position, very lively, very fine work. Maximum length from tail to axe is 25cm, base length 21.5cm, maximum width of the piece approximately 6-7cm, base width 8cm, maximum height 16cm. Very good overall condition, the metal has been de-patinated, it is shiny and clean but has some small spots of natural oxidation, slight wear on the edge of the base, discreet overall. A piece of the beast's ear seems to have been re-soldered, very cleanly, also discreet. Approximately 800g.