
| Institution field | Value |
|---|---|
Accession Number object id | 11.10.98.7 (Ethnology) |
Object Name designation object type | Religion |
Description - Historic description | |
Description - Online label/0 description provenance | This cast brass commemorative altarpiece represents the head of an Oba, wearing a coral bead headpiece and necklaces. It would have been commissioned as one of a pair to be placed symmetrically on the shrine of a deceased Oba by his successor. The circular hole in the top of the head was designed to support a commemorative elephant tusk. Such tusks (see 7.10.97.10) were typically carved with relief imagery reflecting the authority and divine attributes of the Oba. A lot of brass would have gone into the casting of this head. Large quantities of brass became available when Benin’s trade with European merchants was revived in the 18th century. As yet nothing is known about the Mr Miller who sold this commemorative head to the museum in 1898 or how he acquired it. |
Description - Online label/1 description | |
Materials material | Copper Alloy; Brass |
Measurements dimensions | Overall: 398 mm x 320 mm x 310 mm; 15 11/16 in x 12 5/8 in x 12 3/16 in |
Object Type object type | Commemorative Altar head; Uhunmwun Elao |
Item Count object count | 1,00 |
Date Made date made | 18th Century; 19th Century early |
Place Made production place | Africa: Western Africa: Nigeria: Southern Nigeria: Benin City |
Collector prior source | |
Credit Line prior source | Purchase from Mr. Miller, 1898. |
Date Collected date collected | 1897 - 1898 |
Place Collected place collected | Africa: Western Africa: Nigeria: Southern Nigeria: Benin City |
Culture ethnic attribution | Edo [Bini] |
Legal Status legal status | PERMANENT COLLECTION |
Category | Globalisation: Africa |
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