Hugo Warnholtz had residence and/or place of business in Herrengraben in downtown Hamburg. He was an active merchant in West Africa and corresponded with curator Felix von Luschan (1854–1924) in Berlin about the collection he had acquired in Africa. In 1901, he sold a total of six objects from the Kingdom of Benin to the MARKK, including one piece that had originally been part of Oskar Meyer’s private collection.
Hüftmaske mit menschlichem Kopf
Unbekannte Werkstatt der Bronzegießergilde Igun Eronmwon / Königreich Benin, Nigeria, 18./19. Jh. / Gelbguss / Ankauf von Hugo Warnholtz, 1901, Inv. Nr. C 2944
Es ist unklar, ob diese Maske mit einer in der Benin-Kunst sonst nicht repräsentierten Frisur einen weiblichen oder männlichen Kopf darstellt.
Die Narbenverzierung auf den Wangen ist untypisch für Edo und könnte eine Person einer anderen Bevölkerungsgruppe darstellen.
Label Text (eng)
Hip Pendant with Human Head
Unidentified workshop of the Bronze Casters Guild Igun Eronmwon / Benin Kingdom, Nigeria, 18th/19th century / Brass / Acquired from Hugo Warnholtz, 1901, Inv. no. C 2944
It is unclear whether this mask, with a hairstyle not otherwise represented in Benin art, depicts a female or male head.
The scarification on the cheeks is atypical for Edo and could represent a person of a different group.