Digital Benin - Brooklyn Museum - 6_45738

Brooklyn Museum

ObjectID: 45738

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Digital Benin research

Digital Benin linked field

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Edo designation

English designation

200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238, United States

Institution data

Internal Data (eng)

Brooklyn Museum

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last Updated: 2021-06-30

Language: english

Digital Benin linked field	Institution field	Value
object id	ObjectID	45738
designation, object type	Title	Head of an Oba
description	Description	Metal base for ivory tusk in the form of a head. Tall cylinder, the bottom half a collar of simulated beads from shoulders to lower lips; headdress covered with netting design. Top is open to hold tusk.
material	Medium	Copper alloy, iron
dimensions	Dimensions	11 1/4 × 7 7/8 in. (28.5 × 20 cm)
inscriptions	Inscriptions	"AF./2060" in white on back of head; "39.111" in red on back of head
date made	Alpha Sort 2	18th century
date made	Begin Date	1701
production place	Geography	Place made: Benin City, Royal Court of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria, Africa
prior source	Credit Line	Alfred W. Jenkins Fund
provenance	Provenance	Until 1897, Benin Kingdom; 1897, reportedly taken from the Royal Palace during the British military raid and occupation of Benin City by an unidentified British agent; between 1897 and 1912, provenance not yet documented; by November 1912, acquired by William O. Oldman, London; November 18, 1912, purchased from William O. Oldman by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology; 1939, transferred from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology to the Brooklyn Museum, by exchange.
ethnic attribution	Alpha Sort	Edo
ethnic attribution	Maker	Edo
exhibition history	Exhibition History	Brooklyn Museum,"The Arts of Africa", Long-term installation, May 24, 2001 - June, 2011. This was taken off display from unnamed installation in December 1986, per catalogue card.
bibliography	Published References	Ben-Amos, Paula and Arnold Rubin, eds. The Art of Power/The Power of Art: Studies in Benin Iconography. Los Angeles: Museum of Cultural History, UCLA, 1983, 78, fig. 59.The Museum Journal, University of Pennsylvania, vol. 3, no. 4 (Dec. 1912), p. 76, fig. 39.Dalton, O.M. and Charles Hercules Read. Antiquities from the city of Benin and from other parts of West Africa in the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1899, pl. IX, fig. 6. [possibly referring to British Museum Af1897,1217.2]
	Object Number	39.111
	Sort Number	1939 111