Obas of the Edo people, Kingdom of Benin, before 1897; [1] taken by an unknown member of the British Punitive Expeditionto the Kingdom of Benin, 1897. [2] Acquired by Alexander A. Cowan [1867-1955], England/Nigeria, in or after 1897; [3] (sale, Sotheby’s, London, 5-6 July 1954, no. 82). (J.J. Klejman Gallery, New York); purchased around 30 November 1955 by Winston Guest, New York; gift 1955 to NGA.
[1] The sculpture cannot be precisely dated but is thought to have been made during the eighteenth century. It would have belonged to the ruling Oba, and then passed by descent to succeeding Obas.
[2] According to the Sotheby’s, London, sales catalog of 5-6 July 1954, the object was “acquired by the present owner following on the Benin punitive expeditionof 1897.”
[3] Cowan was a merchant from Liverpool who spent his career working for trading firms based in Nigeria. Although not known to have been a member of the British Punitive Expeditionof 1897, he was possibly in Nigeria in 1897 (or shortly after) and may have come into possession of the object around that time through a member of the Expedition