Registration Number: Af1897,1217.1
Institution media
3 images
Institution data
Internal Data (eng)Internal Data (eng)
British Museum
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last Updated: 2022-08-04
Language: English
Registration NumberObject ID
Af1897,1217.1
Object Name - CommentDesignation
Object Name - Object NameDesignation
commemorative head
TitleDesignation
Title translationDesignation
Title typeDesignation
Object History Note / Acquisition NoteDescription, Provenance, Notes
During the British Expedition to Benin City (Edo) in 1897 objects made of brass, ivory, coral and wood were looted by British soldiers from the royal palace, its storerooms and compounds. Some of these objects were sold or exchanged on the coast. However, many were brought to the UK where they were sold through private auction, donated to museums, or retained by soldiers of the expedition. See Collection File: Af1897,1217.1-6.
Physical descriptionDescription
Commemorative head of an Oba (uhunmwun elao); lost-wax cast in brass. Human head depicted wearing beaded coral regalia in form of openwork cap with side wings, strings of beads at sides and back of head, beaded wires projecting across face, and high beaded collar. Head has three raised scarification marks above eyes, two inset vertical marks on forehead and irises inlaid with iron. Line of impressed circles below eyes. Flanged base has motifs of leopards, stone axe-heads, elephants trunks terminating in human hands holding leaves and cow heads. Central circular hole in top of head. Red earth encrustation, especially at back of head.
MaterialMaterial
brass~iron~soil
Material - CommentMaterial
~~
DimensionDimensions
H~W~X~M
Dimension commentDimensions
~~~
Dimension measurement unitDimensions
cm~cm~cm~kg
Dimension noteDimensions
Dimension valueDimensions
35.50~24.50~26.00~18.80
Dimension value endDimensions
~~~
Inscription - NoteInscriptions
Inscription - QuotedInscriptions
Inscription languageInscriptions
Inscription positionInscriptions
Inscription translationInscriptions
Inscription typeInscriptions
Production dateDate Made
1800-1897
Production date - CommentDate Made
circa
Producer/Artist - AssociationProducer
Producer/Artist - NameProducer
TechniqueProduction Technique
lost-wax cast~inlaid
Technique - CommentProduction Technique
~
Production placeProduction Place
Benin City
Production place - AssociationProduction Place
M
Production place - CommentProduction Place
Production place - Site detailsProduction Place
Previous owner - AssociationPrior Source
Previous owner - CommentPrior Source
Previous owner - NamePrior Source
Acquisition Funding Source NameProvenance
Acquisition Funding Source Name AssociationProvenance
Acquisition Funding Source Name CommentProvenance
Acquisition NameProvenance
Roth, Henry Ling
Acquisition Name AssociationProvenance
P
Acquisition Name CommentProvenance
Excavation/Field Collection NoteProvenance
This commemorative head was looted from Benin City in 1897 by Felix Roth who served as Advance Surgeon on the British Expedition.
Excavator/Field collector - AssociationProvenance
FC
Excavator/Field collector - NameProvenance
Roth, Felix Norman
Associated event - AssociationEvent
Associated event - EventEvent
Associated placePlace Collected
Associated place - AssociationPlace Collected
Findspot - AssociationPlace Collected
F
Findspot - CommentPlace Collected
Findspot - PlacePlace Collected
Benin City
Findspot - Site detailsPlace Collected
Associated name - AssociationReign Associated Name
Associated name - CommentReign Associated Name
Associated name - NameReign Associated Name
Associated ethnic name - AssociationEthnic Attribution
Associated ethnic name - Ethnic NameEthnic Attribution
Production ethnic name - AssociationEthnic Attribution
M
Production ethnic name - CommentEthnic Attribution
Production ethnic name - Ethnic NameEthnic Attribution
Edo
Responsible departmentDepartment and Institution
E
CommentNotes
Read & Dalton 1899: Pedestal in the form of a human head, with a circular hole in the top, and a cap of beadwork, from the sides of which project two curved wings and two horn-like objects in front of the face. A high bead collar covers the chin, and the sides and back of the head are partially covered by pendant plaits and strings of beads. Over each eyebrow are three cicatrices and a longer band, the latter like the pupils of the eyes, inlaid with iron. A flange projects round the base upon which are various symbolic objects in relief. In front is a cow’s head between two polished axe-heads and two elephant heads with human arms for trunks. At the back is another axe-head between two rudely executed masks beyond which are two fish and another cow’s head. Note- Af1897,1217.1,2 and 3 are not made of iron as stated in The Studio, Vol XV., p. 178, December 1898; Int. Archiv für Ethnographie, Vol. XI. (1898),p 237, but of bronze, like No. 4. Purchased 1898.
Exhibitions Loans and Displays - Current and PastExhibition History
Exhibited: 1970-1973, London, Museum of Mankind, Divine Kingship in Africa 1997-1998 Sep-Jan, Osaka, National Museum of Ethnology, Images of Other Cultures 1998, Feb-Apr, Tokyo, Setagaya Art Museum, Images of Other Cultures 2015-2016 4 Dec-27 Mar, Korea, Seoul Arts Centre, Human Image
Bibliographic reference - CitationBibliography
Read & Dalton 1899
Bibliographic reference - CommentBibliography
Bibliographic reference - ReferenceBibliography
pl IX.V
ConditionCondition
Good. Beaded wings on each side of face bent in slightly.