Elephant tusks have been prominent objects on royal ancestral shrines since at least the 17th century. However, it was not until the late 18th century that elaborate carvings became a common characteristic of the tusks displayed on the shrines of Oba, Queen Mothers and high ranking chiefs. This tusk is likely from the ancestral altar of a high-ranking chief at the end of the 1800s. The carved elements on the tusk represent symbols and imagery from myths and legends that emphasize the temporal and spiritual power of the owner.
This object was gifted to the ROM in 1998 by Mr. & Mrs. John Braine, of Windsor, Ontario. According to Mr. Braine, his maternal grandfather was Capt. Henry Bevan Mansfield of the Royal Irish Rifles, who was a Commissioner in Nigeria in the late 19th century. The family emigrated from Ireland to Canada in 1957.