Object History Note / Acquisition Notedescription, provenance, notes During the British expeditionto Benin City (Edo) in 1897 objects made of brass, bronze, 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 in West Africa. However, many were brought to the UK where they were retained by soldiers of the expeditionand subsequently inherited by thier families; put up for auction; or donated, lent, or sold to museums. See Collection File: Af1897,-.498-563.
Physical descriptiondescription Osun pendant mask; hip ornament; lost-wax cast in brrass. In form of human face; two rectangular scarificaion marks on forehead; one partially inlaid with iron. Snakes emerge from nostrils with toads or frogs in their mouths. Snakes wriggle over bodies of scaly creatures on chin. Headdress has centrally placed large reptile with toads or frogs at either side and other creatures, including mudfish (?) in low relief on surface. Two loops for suspension at sides; broken suspension loop at back. Hole through mask above top lip; further large hole below chin. Mask is blackened (burnt) across right proper top and below chin.
Read & Dalton 1899: The cap has a plaited loop and various figures of men, fish, &c, in relief. From the nostrils issue two snakes, each catching a frog, and on the temples are two similar figures, which appear to issue from hands on either cheek. These again are connected with two heads of crocodiles, which issue from the chin. From each side of the chin projects a clenched hand with a wristlet, grasping the tail of a snake which coils round the arm, with the two heads projecting downwards. On the forehead are two incisions, as in Af1897,1011, but now empty, with the exception of one small piece of iron. The upper lip is perforated. Similar object [to Af,1897.528a] NOTE.—This specimen is much superior in execution to any of the others, and also shows a somewhat different style of art, more nearly approaching that seen in Ashanti gold ornaments. Vid. The Archaeological Journal Vol. XXXI., 1874, p. 30.~Plankensteiner 2007: Osun is the spiritual essence embodied in the psychic and physical effects on human beings of certain natural substances, such as leaves, herbs, roots, fungus, and the venoms of serpents and insects. Practitioners of skills taught by Osun are feared because of their secret knowledge, and because of the strange creatures housed within their homes and shrines. Osun specialists who are sought after for healing and protection are referred to as Ebo, or nativedoctors, and they combat those with anti-social tendencies, who are considered witches (Ben-Amos 1976: 249-250). As a sacred king, destined to be responsible for the psychic strength of his kingdom, the Oba of Benin remains very close to practitioners of Osun. In Edo belief, the Oba wages a continuous war against ominous powers, Unearthly beings are always attracted to the palace, attempting to counter invocations of holy spirits, deities and the High God, Osanobua. In ancient custom, the Oba must profoundly understand occult practices in order to defend his people (Fagg 1970: 29). There is a suspension loop on this emblem of Osun, and either the Oba or a prominent specialist would have worn this ornament. Some manifestations of Osun are considered so powerful that they can sneeze out poisonous serpents that attack their enemies, and this capability is well expressed here. Snakes emerge from the nostrils of this face, and wriggle over the bodies of scaly creatures on its chin. Others disgorge toads on either side of the eyes, below slithering things that crawl upward toward a large reptile that dominates the crest of the mask.
Exhibitions Loans and Displays - Current and Pastexhibition history Exhibited: 1970-1973, London, Museum of Mankind, Divine Kingship in Africa 2007 May-Sept, Vienna, Museum für Völkerkunde, Benin. Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria 2007-2008 Oct-Jan, Paris, Musée du quai Branly, Benin. Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria 2008 Feb-May, Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum, Benin. Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria 2008 Jun-Sept, Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, Benin. Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria 2012 April-Nov, Berg en dal, Netherlands, Afrika Museum, The Secret of the Snake