Fowler Museum at UCLA
Object ID: X65.9084
Institution media
12 images
Digital Benin research
Edo designation
Uhunmwu-Elao
English designation
Commemorative Head
Category
Altar & Shrine Objects
Heads
Provenance
Stevens Auction Rooms
Wellcome Trust
Wellcome, Henry Solomon
LocationLos Angeles, United States
Institution data
Internal Data (eng)
Fowler Museum at UCLA
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last Updated: 2021-07-30
Language: English
Object IDObject ID
X65.9084
descriptionDescription
brass head
MaterialsMaterial
COPPER ALLOY
DimensionsDimensions
H: 37.78 cm, DIAM: 20.32 cm
Object NameObject Type
HEAD
DateDate Made
1907
Geographical areaProduction Place
BENIN KINGDOM, BENIN CITY, NIGERIA
PartyPrior Source
Stevens' Auction Rooms Ltd., Sir Henry Wellcome, Wellcome Trust
Evidence 1Provenance
From Stevens auction 11/12/1907, Lot 2 "Large bronze head, used as a base for holding a ju-ju elephant's tusk, placed at the sides of sacrificial altar at Benin"
Evidence 2Provenance
Country CultureEthnic Attribution
Benin
Culture GroupEthnic Attribution
EDO (NIGERIAN)
Party NotesNotes
"Large bronze head, used as a base for holding a ju-ju elephant's tusk, placed at the sides of sacrificial altar at Benin"
summary of curatorial notes archival research thus far summer 2021Notes
Purchased at Stevens auction November 12, 1907 (lot 2) "Large bronze head, used as a base for holding a ju-ju elephant's tusk, placed at the sides of sacrificial altar at Benin." Lots surrounding this one (# 1 and #4) include mention of the seige, but not lot. Visual observations suggest it was possibly damaged in a fire-- unclear when fire occured.
statusLegal Status
needs more research (check sale before at Stevens-- these objects were left over from previous sale)
Old Numbers
R1591/1937
Party Lot Number
2
provenance list known dates
1907 (November 12): Sold at Stevens' Auction Rooms Ltd [lot 2] "Large bronze head, used as base for holding a ju-ju elephant's tusk, placed at the sides of sacrifical altar at Benin" 1965 Gift of the Wellcome Trust to Fowler Museum (then Museum and Laboratories of Ethnic Arts and Technology)