Purchases by the Nigerian Government at the Sale by Messrs. Sotheby & Co. Bond Street, London on December 7th, 1953: Mr. W. B. Fagg assistant keeper, British Museum acted for the Nigerian Government at the Sale. Bronze cock from Benin.
Bronze cock which did not come into existence until after the introduction of the Iy’ọba title by Ọba Esigie. The first Iy’Ọba was Idia, and the Iy’ọba title is considered to be the greatest achievement of a Benin woman. It has spiritual significance and is placed at the altar of the Iy’ọba after her death. The Iy’ọba is referred to Ọkpa n’ Uselu (Ọkpa being a shortened version of Ọkporhu).