Provenience undocumented (Benin City, Nigeria, 18th-19th c dates based on chronology for Benin bronzes established by William Fagg and Philip Dark; Aaron Furman Gallery of New York to 6/5/59; Joseph Hirshhorn purchase 6/5/59 to 5/17/66). Identification provided by Hirshhorn Museum (HMSG). Vetted by William Fagg and Philip Dark for HMSG. Exhibited in HMSG's "Benin Art," Dec. 1978 - (?) 1980. Was on loan to National Museum of American History (NMAH), recalled fall 1998. Exhibited in NMNH "African Voices" 1999 - present.
Description: brass hip mask depicts stylized face with bulging eyes, wide nose, thick lips. Scarification across forehead. Wears semi-circular shaped headdress with diamond-shaped openwork in front, studded with 5-petals flowers. Row of flanges along lower jaw with 4 flanges missing. Below the flanges is a row of loops. 2 big loops are in the back of hollow mask, one on top and one on bottom. Stained white in places. SI Archives acc. 86-136, box 2 From African Voices exhibit: "This miniature mask representing the king would have been worn on the belt of a high-ranking Benin chief."