Catalogue
Catalog #
E428172-0
Institution
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Edo designations
English designations
Commemorative Queen Mother Head
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Heads
Location
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560, United States
Commemorative Queen Mother Head
Commemorative Queen Mother Head
Commemorative Queen Mother Head
Commemorative Queen Mother Head

Provenance

5 events
Production
unknown to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)
The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.
Looted
February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to June 1899 (year approximate)
The object was looted by Unknown member of the British colonial military campaign on Benin - February 1897 from Benin Kingdom.
Unknown
1950s to June 5, 1959
The object is known to have come into contact with Aaron Furman, later in New York City.
Purchase
June 5, 1959
The object was purchased by Joseph Herman Hirshhorn and D.C Washington Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden from Aaron Furman Gallery and Aaron Furman from New York City to Washington, D.C..
Donation
August 28, 1992
The object was donated by D.C Washington Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History with its destination in Washington, D.C..

Institution data

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2022-01-18
Language: english
Institution fieldValue
Accession number
object id
370312
Catalog #
object id
E428172-0
Object Name
designation
Memorial Head of Queen Mother
Material
material
Copper alloy
Measurement
dimensions
Height 47 cm; Diameter 25.5 cm
Index Term
object type
Sculpture
Count
object count
1
Date created
date made
16th-17th century
Site
production place
Nigeria, Edo State / Kingdom of Benin, Benin City
Donor / Transactor
prior source
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
Collector
provenance
Date collected
date collected
Before 1959
Culture
ethnic attribution
Edo
Accession date
accession date
8/28/92
Notes
notes
Provenience undocumented (Benin City, Nigeria, 16th c-17th c.; Aaron Furman Gallery of NY, to 6/5/59; Joseph Hirshhorn purchase 6/5/59 to 5/17/66). Identification provided by Hirshhorn Museum (HMSG). Gift of Joseph Hirshhorn Foundation. Vetted by William Fagg & Philip Dark for HMSG. Fagg dated this to the early 16th c.; Dark dated it to 17th c, perhaps earlier. Dark commented that these heads were made by brass casters for their ancestor shrines in the brassworker's quarter. Exhibited in HMSG's "Benin Art," Dec 1978 - (?) 1980. Description: Hollow, cast brass head with flared, circular base and cylindrical, ridged neck. Large, almond-shaped eyes with raised pupils, sharply indented wide nose, full, parted lips, small, sculpted ears. Across forehead are 6 raised oval scarification marks. Wears round headgear w/the front part rising higher, ending in a beak-like point. Behind this is round hole. Head-gear has raised, diamond-shaped pattern. Rim & base of front part are decorated with floral and cylindrical attachments. Hanging from rim are braided & beaded hair. Base's flared edge is trimmed with braids & surface covered with raised scroll pattern. Label "sf66.41." Condition: some losses around flared edge of base. Large hole in back of head. SI Archives acc. 86-136, box 2
Digital negative #
images
NMNH-2022-00244; NMNH-2022-00245; NMNH-2022-00246; NMNH-2022-00247; NMNH-2022-00248; NMNH-2022-00249; NMNH-2022-00250; NMNH-2022-00251
Online record
weblink
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/37b3ba887-2be8-4b68-aa43-bb242f21f606
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