Accession Number
2004.86
Edo designations
English designations
Commemorative Head
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Location
800 University Ave, Madison, WI 53706, United States
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Iconographies

5 annotations
Colar Bead
Odigba
Coral beaded collar

Odigba (coral-beaded collar) is a rigid neck collar made of coral beads, worn as part of ceremonial attire only by senior princes who have been made Enigie (Inneh 2007, p. 107). Although Ibafe (2007, p. 43) argued that the Odigba was introduced during the Ogiso period (c. 900–c. 1170 AD) by Ogiso Ere, along with other symbolically important Emwin Arhe, such as the Ada (ceremonial sword) and the Ẹbẹn (ceremonial sword), this seems unlikely, as coral was only introduced in the late 15th century through trade with Portuguese merchants.

1 annotation
Odigba
Ikharo
Forehead markings

Ikharo are linear keloid markings depicted on the forehead of Uhunmwu-Elao (commemorative heads) in groups of three or four above each eye. The exact meaning of Ikharo is debated; some have argued that they relate to the gender or tribal identification of the person on whom they are depicted. For example, has argued that they were worn only by men; however, their use in depictions is not consistent with this, and the Iy’Ọba are also shown wearing them. argued that they are instead a stylistic feature employed by artists that varied over time.

The naming of these markings differs between publications. For example, describe these markings as “agbaguda n'ehae”, which they write translates literally as “blades of the forehead”. However, later went on to call these “ikharo”, as used here. referred to these forehead markings as ikharo, meaning “tribal mark [of eye]”.

1 annotation
Ikharo
Igan
Feather

Igan (feathers) are commonly depicted tucked into the headdresses and hats of chiefs represented on Emwin Arre (royal treasures). These feathers are from the Oɛɣohɔ (vulturine fish eagle) and symbolise respected old age and proper chieftaincy ( ).

1 annotation
Igan
Udahae
Beaded forehead band

The Udahae is a forehead band made from coral beads and worn by chiefs. Sometimes a white Igan (feather) from the Oɛɣohɔ (vulturine fish eagle) is tucked into the left side of the Udahae. According to Benin oral tradition, the Udahae was introduced by Ọba Ezoti, the first son of Ọba Ewuare I. During his coronation, Ezoti was shot in the forehead with a poisoned arrow. To stop the bleeding, a band of red beads was wrapped around his forehead while he made public appearances. Fourteen days later, he died from his wound. Since then, Benin chiefs have worn the red-beaded Udahae around their foreheads to commemorate the cap used by Ezoti to stop the bleeding (Egharevba 1968, p. 21).

1 annotation
Udahae
Ubanu'hi / Obanu'hi
Ubanu'hi / Obanu'hi
Inifinity Symbol

The Ubanu'hi (infinity symbol) is a kind of guilloche or interlaced strapwork motif that can be angular or rounded. It was used by Edo artists in the decoration of many Emwin Arhe (royal treasures) and is ubiquitous in Benin royal arts. Ubanu'hi is a shortened form of “uba no Ọba ya de agbon ke ehimwin yi”, which means “the rope with which the Ọba ties the heaven and earth together” (pers. comm. Chief John Igbineweka Inneh n’Igbesawman, 2022). Similarly, Paula Ben-Amos Girshick (in Plankensteiner 2007, pp. 339, 341) described this as “Ọba n’iri agbon”, or the “rope of the world” pattern.

According to Ọbabanmu Ineh (in Blackmun 1984, p. 51), the use of this motif indicates that objects were carved by members of the Igbesanmwan. However, the motif is found on all types of Emwin Arhe (royal treasures), not only those made of ivory or wood. On the flanges of the Ama (relief plaques) alone, Kathryn Gunsch (2018, pp. 75–77) identified three different versions of the Ubanu'hi and, through her analysis of over 850 plaques, found that these different Ubanu'hi forms align with other characteristics, such as dimensions, the prevalence of ornamental motifs, and stylistic qualities. Together, these provide evidence, she argues, of different production groups among the plaque makers .

Kate Ezra (1992, pp. 209, 264) went on to argue that the use of these motifs indicates that certain objects were used in a “royal context” and were associated with “royal patronage”.

1 annotation
Ubanu'hi / Obanu'hi

Institution data

Chazen Museum of Art
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2023-08-23
Language: english
Institution fieldValue
Accession Number
object id
2004.86
Artist - Sort Name
producer
ethnic attribution
Unknown, Nigerian, Edo People
Title
object type
edo designation
Commemorative Head of a Chief (uhunmwun-elao)
Artist Life Dates
producer
(Nigerian, Edo People)
Display Date
late 19th century
Creation Date Range
date made
1850-1897
Dimensions-overall
dimensions
25.63 in. x 11 in. x 9.75 in. (65.09 cm x 27.94 cm x 24.77 cm)
Dimensions-Height
dimensions
25.63 in. (65.09 cm)
Dimensions-Width
dimensions
11 in. (27.94 cm)
Dimensions-Depth
dimensions
9.75 in. (24.77 cm)
Media & Support
material
Wood, brass, coconut shell inlay
Didactic Text
description
This commemorative head, or uhunmwun-elao, was carved from wood by an Edo craftsman in the Kingdom of Benin, located in the southwest part of present-day Nigeria. The head was carved in a cylindrical shape and overlaid with thin brass sheets. The figure wears Edo noble attire: a beaded crown with a feather adorning one side and a beaded collar. Scarification marks are seen around the figure’s eyes. Because the head is not made entirely of cast bronze or brass, it likely does not represent the king (called the Oba), but rather a chief. Commemorative heads like this one would have been placed on altars in Benin City, the kingdom’s capitol. In 1897, an army of men under the leadership of a British Vice Admiral attacked and looted Benin City; today, there is much debate about whether such objects belong in Western institutions. The Chazen continues to investigate the provenance of this particular object.
Item Category
object type
Sculpture
Geography
production place
Nigeria; Benin City
Culture
ethnic attribution
Edo
Source
prior owner
Sotheby's, New York
Credit Line
license
J. David and Laura Seefried Horsfall Endowment Fund purchase
Provenance
provenance
by 1973, in the collection of "R. S." (Berlin, Germany) [1]; by 1997, when included in a catalogue of the Bareiss Family Collection, in the ownership of Walter and Molly Bareiss (Greenwich, CT, USA) (inv. #346); 11 November 2004, sold by Walter and Molly Bareiss via Sotheby's New York "African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art" auction [sale #8029, lot 72] to Elvehjem Museum of Art [now called Chazen Museum of Art] (Madison, WI, USA). [1] As published in Schaedler's "African Art in Private German Collections." [Last researched by Chazen staff 20 August 2021]
Published reference
bibliography
Schadler, Karl-Ferdinand. "African Art in Private German Collections." Munich: Munchner Buchgewebehaus, 1973. no. 279
Published reference
bibliography
Roy, Christopher D. "Kilengi: African Art from the Bareiss Family Collection." Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1997. pp. 45, 301, 406; no. 199
Published reference
bibliography
Sotheby's, New York. "African, Oceanic, and Pre-Columbian Art," Nov. 11, 2004. lot 72
Published reference
bibliography
Chazen Museum of Art. "Bulletin 2003-2007." Madison: Chazen Museum of Art, 2010. p. 55
Published reference
bibliography
Rarey, Matthew Francis and Henry John Drewal. "Never at Rest: African Art at the University of Wisconsin." African Arts, vol 53, no. 4 (2020): 68-85. fig. 6
Exhibition History
exhibition history
Kilengi: African Art from the Bareiss Family Collection; organized by Kestner Gesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; exhibited: Kestner Gesellschaft, 30 August 1997 - 19 October 1997; MAK Austrian Museum of Applied Arts, 12 November 1997 - 18 January 1998; Stadtische Galerie Im Lenbachhaus, 8 April 1998 - 5 July 1998; University of Iowa Museum of Art, 27 March 1999 - 23 May 1999; State University of New York, 26 September 1999 - 10 January 2000
Exhibition History
exhibition history
Perspectives: African Art from the Bareiss Family Collection, organized by the Elvehjem Museum of Art (now called Chazen Museum of Art), 16 April 2004-15 May 2005
Exhibition History
exhibition history
re:mancipation, organized by the Chazen Museum of Art, 6 February 2023 - 25 June 2023
Sensitive Content

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