Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ (pendant masks) is a general term, however each mask has a different name depending on the subject depicted. For example, if an Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ depicted Iy’ọba Idia it would be called ‘Uhunmwun-Idia’.

Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ are one of the best-known categories of Benin artworks. A range of human and animal heads are depicted, hence the term ‘mask’, although they were not used to cover the face. Sometimes known as ‘hip masks’, they may be worn on the belt or hung at the hip as seen cast on relief plaques and in the carved motifs on altar tusks. Many pendant masks have a series of eyelets around the edge of the lower portion, to which small crotal bells were attached, and as the wearer moved they would have chimed.

The material – ivory or brass – and the iconography depicted were important factors in who was able to wear the masks and why. For example, leopard-head pendant masks may be worn by warriors and those involved in the military, and ivory masks only by the high-ranking Ezomo or Iyase (Blackmun in Plankensteiner, 2007, p.363

). Meanwhile, brass crocodile-head pendant masks were the preserve of the Ọba, and he wore them in a set of three along the front of his belt (Blackmun in Plankensteiner, 2007, p.365

Oftentimes, pendant masks also depict human faces, usually but not always, male. Although scholars do not agree, it has been argued these may depict the Ọba, or perhaps defeated chiefs (Blackmun in Plankensteiner, 2007, pp.358, 362

). The faces of Portuguese men are also identifiable by their straight hair and beards, and attest to the importance of relationships between the Benin Kingdom and Portugal in the 16th century. The beautiful Queen Idia pendant masks, carved in ivory and which went on to become emblematic of FESTAC ‘77, are the notable exception to the predominantly male depictions on pendant masks.

Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ

Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ (pendant masks) is a general term, however each mask has a different name depending on the subject depicted. For example, if an Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ depicted Iy’Ọba Idia it would be called ‘Uhunmwun-Idia’.

). Oftentimes, pendant masks also depict human faces, usually but not always, male. Although scholars do not agree, it has been argued these may depict the Ọba, or perhaps defeated chiefs (Blackmun in Plankensteiner, 2007, pp.358, 362

Pendant Mask

United States of America

Website

Online Catalogue

Brooklyn Museum

Internal Data (eng)

Hewett, Kenneth John

Dealer

Intermediary

Merton D. Simpson Gallery

Gallery

Wikidata Link

Riese, Beatrice

Collector

Donor

Simpson, Merton Daniel

Buyer at auction

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Digital Benin linked field	Institution field	Value
object id	ObjectID	155384
designation, object type	Title	Hip Ornament with Human Face (Uhunmwun-ekue)
description	Description	Human face with ornate adornments. Semi-circular "crown" extends above forehead with lattice-like area and three 5-lobed decorations at center. Small, globular forms around edge. At forehead, five strands of "beads." Above each eye, three vertical incised lines. Band of incised lines from center of brow to tip of nose. Seven strands of beads represented around lower edge of face. Extending from beaded strands, series of conical projections, resembling ruffled collar; loops attached to each flaring element. Five small, figure-eight shaped wires attached to loops.
material	Medium	Copper alloy, iron
dimensions	Dimensions	6 13/16 × 4 5/16 × 2 1/4 in. (17.3 × 11 × 5.7 cm)
inscriptions	Inscriptions	faint evidence of a number in white along the PR side of the base, possibly "B60(?).8.513"
date made	Alpha Sort 2	18th century (possibly)
date made	Begin Date	1701
production place	Geography	Place made: Benin City, Royal Court of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria, Africa
prior source	Credit Line	Gift of Beatrice Riese
provenance	Provenance	Prior to 1965, provenance not yet documented; by 1965, reportedly John Hewitt, London; by 1965, acquired by Merton D. Simpson Gallery, New York; 1965, purchased and traded for by Beatrice Riese, New York; 1994, gift of Beatrice Riese to the Brooklyn Museum.
ethnic attribution	Alpha Sort	Edo
ethnic attribution	Maker	Edo
exhibition history	Exhibition History	Brooklyn Museum, "African Innovations," Long-term Installation, August 12, 2011 - September 28, 2014. Brooklyn Museum, “Arts of Africa,” Long-term Installation, May 24, 2001 - June 26, 2011.
bibliography	Published References
	Object Number	1994.143
	Sort Number	1994 143

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