Aquamanile, lost-wax cast in brass. In form of standing ram. Hollow casting with small opening on top of head for pouring; lid is missing. Ram depicted with upright ears, curving horns, striated fur on chest and split hooves.
This ram aquamanile and another similar (and from the same source) were purchased at Fosters auction house on 16 July 1931 by the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum. This aquamanile was subsequently donated to the Museum in 1954. The second aquamanaile was sold through Sotheby's (7 December 1953) to the Nigerian government. It is now in the collections of the National Museum Lagos (accession number 53.22.2). The two aquamanile were possibly made as a pair; alternativey the Lagos aquamanile may have been made to replace the damaged British Museum ram. ~Rams are regarded as symbols of masculinity in Benin and were sacrificial animals at the annual Ague ceremony. Ram aquamanile were used by the Oba to wash his hands during the closing rites of the Ague ceremony in the royal palace in Benin City (Curnow, 1997).
Exhibited: 1970-1973, London, Museum of Mankind, Divine Kingship in Africa 1991 Feb-Apr, Norwich, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Man and Metal in Ancient Nigeria 1993-1997, London, Museum of Mankind, Great Benin: a West African Kingdom