During the British Expeditionto 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.
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.
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.
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