ID
A6523
Edo designations
English designations
Commemorative Head
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Heads
Location
North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
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Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head

Iconographies

5 annotations
Colar Bead
Odigba
Coral beaded collar

Odigba (coral-beaded collar) is a rigid neck collar made of coral beads, worn as part of ceremonial attire only by senior princes who have been made Enigie (Inneh 2007, p. 107). Although Ibafe (2007, p. 43) argued that the Odigba was introduced during the Ogiso period (c. 900–c. 1170 AD) by Ogiso Ere, along with other symbolically important Emwin Arhe, such as the Ada (ceremonial sword) and the Ẹbẹn (ceremonial sword), this seems unlikely, as coral was only introduced in the late 15th century through trade with Portuguese merchants.

1 annotation
Odigba
Ititi ako
Star beads

The Ititi ako is a cluster of coral beads, usually three or four, attached to a pin and used to embellish the royal crowns on Uhunmwu-Elao (commemorative heads) and Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ (pendant masks). These bead clusters are also known as star beads, which indicate the prosperous destiny of an individual or wearer. Apart from enhancing the appearance of the wearer, they also represent the individual’s high social status. Judging from their presence on a variety of head sculptures, both men and women wore Ititi ako.

1 annotation
Ititi ako
Ikharo
Forehead markings

Ikharo are linear keloid markings depicted on the forehead of Uhunmwu-Elao (commemorative heads) in groups of three or four above each eye. The exact meaning of Ikharo is debated; some have argued that they relate to the gender or tribal identification of the person on whom they are depicted. For example, has argued that they were worn only by men; however, their use in depictions is not consistent with this, and the Iy’Ọba are also shown wearing them. argued that they are instead a stylistic feature employed by artists that varied over time.

The naming of these markings differs between publications. For example, describe these markings as “agbaguda n'ehae”, which they write translates literally as “blades of the forehead”. However, later went on to call these “ikharo”, as used here. referred to these forehead markings as ikharo, meaning “tribal mark [of eye]”.

1 annotation
Ikharo
Beaded Crown
Ẹde
Beaded Crown

Although many other members of the Benin royal court wore a variety of hats and forms of headwear, only the Ọba may wear the Ẹde (beaded crown). The Ọba must never be seen bare-headed, and successive Ọbas introduced different styles and types of crowns ( ).

Across different media and objects, Ọbas are depicted wearing various types of crowns, all elaborately crafted from coral beads. Some feature tall projections rising from the crown, known as Oro, while others have curved projections extending from either side of the head, known as the winged cap. The latter was introduced only in the 19th century, most likely by Ọba Osẹmwẹndẹ ( ). Depictions of Ọba Esigie on Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques) show him wearing an elaborate crown decorated with large jasper or coral beads ( ).

1 annotation
Ẹde
Ẹkpẹn
Leopard

The Ẹkpẹn (leopard) is an animal that appears most often among the motifs decorating the Emwin Arhe (royal treasures). The Ẹkpẹn symbolises the valour and strength of the Ọba, as well as his political authority. The Benin people eulogise the Ọba as the ‘ẹkpẹn n'owa’ (leopard of the home).

When a hunter kills a leopard, he must say “ẹkpẹn n'oha” (I killed a bush leopard), as it is taboo to say that a hunter killed a leopard without specifying that it is a bush leopard, as otherwise this would “be tantamount to symbolically killing the king” (Nevadomsky 1988, p. 81). For this reason, leopards of the bush are called Atalakpa to distinguish them from those that represent the Ọba.

1 annotation
Ẹkpẹn

Provenance

4 events
Production
unknown to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)
The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.
Looted
February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to June 1899 (year approximate)
The object was looted by Unknown member of the British colonial military campaign on Benin - February 1897 from Benin Kingdom.
Unknown
February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to October 4, 1898
The object is known to have come into contact with William Downing Webster, later in Bicester.
Purchase
October 4, 1898 to May 25, 1899
The object was purchased by the South Australian Museum from William Downing Webster through David Murray from Bicester to Adelaide.

Related archival documents

1 documents
See all
An archival document representing a Official Reports of 6 page(s)
Official Report
South Australian Museum
‘Graeme Pretty to the Museum Board 22/8/1983’
Date
August 22, 1983

Institution data

South Australian Museum
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2021-10-28
Language: english
Institution fieldValue
ID
object id
A6523
Notes
description
A6523 probably dates from the mid-nineteenth century; the later period of the Benin Royal Court. The highly stylised composition, with swollen cheeks and enlarged eyes, and the flanged base are all characteristic of this later period. The wing-like projections from the skullcap are also particular to this period, reportedly having been introduced by Oba Osemwede who reigned from around 1816 to 1848.
Media
material
Bronze, cast
Dimensions
dimensions
390 mm H x 265 mm W x 280 mm D
Weight
weight
16.20 kg
Description
object type
Commemorative bust of a Benin Oba
Timeline
provenance
Benin cultural material at the South Australian Museum Timeline 09.02.1897 The British Admiralty invades Benin City 04.10.1898 Webster writes a price list of items sent to SAM on approval. Three items are from Benin, and are described by Webster as ‘taken in Benin City, W. Coast Africa by the British troops in Feb. 1897’. The three items are a carved elephant tusk (A73539), a bronze head (A6523) and a bronze ‘staff of office’ (A41813). The list also includes three non-Benin items: a battle axe from the Congo, and two New Caledonian clubs. AA309/1/192. 05.10.1898 Webster writes to Stirling letting him know that he has sent ‘six specimens on approval’. He explains that he has ‘purchased most of the Benin specimens, primarily from officers in the and a few from government’, and that ‘there is nothing left in Benin’. He mentions that a tusk and some bronzes are included in the six specimens. AA309/1/195. 08.10.1898 Webster writes a short note to Stirling, telling him that he has enclosed a bill of lading for the shipment (bill of lading not sighted). AA309/1/196. 21.11.1898 SAM receives notice from Port Adelaide of the shipment’s arrival: two cases of ethnographic specimens. AA309/1/199 front, AA309/1/199 back. 15.12.1898 Stirling’s letter to the editor is published seeking a purchaser/donor for the Benin items being sold by Webster. This is published in the South Australian Register newspaper on page 5 with the heading ‘Treasures From Benin’. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA 1839 - 1900), Thursday 15 December 1898, page 5. 21.12.1898 Stirling writes to Webster, referring to Webster’s letter dated 5.10.1898 and confirming receipt of the specimens that Webster sent. In relation to the items from Benin he writes ‘I regret to say that our funds (this year very small) do not permit us to become purchaser nor is it -----[?] to suspect that the ----[?] will be much better ------[?] years. He also says that he has contacted the two daily papers in the hope that someone might help with purchase. A298 - Letter Book Museum Book 1 1895 Part 1 - page 117. 05.01.1899 Stirling writes to Webster, referring to his letter to Webster dated 21.12.1898. The letter states ‘I have received from a gentleman of standing here an offer of fifty pounds £50 for the lot, that is to say for those from Benin and West Africa’. A298 - Letter Book Museum Book 1 1895 Part 1 - page 120. 06.01.1899 Newspaper articles in Adelaide’s Evening Journal and the South Australian Register titled ‘The Adelaide Museum’. Both articles are identical. The bulk of the articles is about the items from Benin. They state that Webster’s selling price is £60 and that Stirling had received ‘a private offer from an Adelaide gentleman which he will forward to Mr. Webster’. The rest of the article describes these items in some detail. It also quotes an extract from a book by Captain Alan Boisragon, one of the two survivors of the English to Benin. This extract details how these items were used. Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA 1869 - 1912), Friday 6 January 1899, page 4. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA 1839 - 1900), Friday 6 January 1899, page 5. 15.01.1899 Stirling writes to Webster (not sighted) – NB: this is probably Stirling’s letter to Webster dated 05.01.1899; the date ‘15.01.1899’ is implied from the text of Webster’s letter to Stirling dated 13.02.1899 27.01.1899 Webster responds to a letter from Stirling (presumably the one dated 21.12.1898). The letter expresses thanks to Stirling for ‘writing to the papers’ to find a buyer/donor for the material sent by Webster. AA309-1-1-202. 13.02.1899 Webster writes to Stirling, referring to Stirling’s letter of 15.01.1899 [sic]. The letter he is referring to is probably the one dated 05.01.1899. He once again mentions Stirling’s attempt to secure a buyer for his material. He describes the shipment as containing ‘Benin and Congo specimens’ and that he will accept the offer of £50 for them but hoping for an additional £5 AA309-1-1-208. 20.03.1899 Stirling writes to Webster (not sighted). Based on Webster’s letter to Stirling dated 25.05.1899 it’s possible that Stirling’s letter is actually dated 20.04.1899 rather than 20.03.1899. Still couldn’t find it. 03.04.1899 Report of the Museum Committee notes an offer from Mr David Murray to donate ‘interesting and valuable ethnographic specimens from Benin City’. 25.05.1899 Webster refers to Stirling’s letter dated 20.04.1899. He acknowledges receipt of payment for the Benin material and a New Caledonian club. He also notes that there was a second New Caledonian jade axe that Stirling must have ‘overlooked’, and says that he is sending payment receipts and an invoice for the jade axe (both not sighted). AA309-1-1-215. June 1898-99 Record of David Murray’s donations of ‘1 Bronze Mask, 1 Carved Elephant tusk, 1 Iron axe with copper plated handle, 1 Bronze staff of Office’. Written under this in different hand-writing is ‘New Caledonian greenstone ax-head mounted in handle’. AA298-14-1-8 - Donations to SA Museum Book 3 - page 257. 30.06.1899 Annual Report, 1898-99 page 9, from the Assistant Museum Director A. Zietz. The report indicates that four items from Benin were acquired: A carved elephant tusk, a bronze bust, a bronze ‘staff of office’, and a battle axe. The items were presented to the museum as a donation by David A. Murray Esq. Annual Report 1898-99. 02.08.1899 Stirling writes to Webster enclosing payment for the New Caledonian jade axe. This is the item referred to in the Benin correspondence. A298 - Letter Book Museum Book 1 1895 Part 1 - page 130. 26.02.1902 Newspaper article in Adelaide’s Register page 8 with the heading ‘Professor Stirling’s Travels’ and the sub-heading ‘Notes on Museums’. The first paragraph details, amongst other thigs, donations made by various people to the museum, including the donations made by Sir William Ingram – ‘ethnological articles from New Guinea and the Polynesian Islands’ and ‘a valuable bronze house-panel from Benin, West Africa, of the same class of workmanship as the bronze mask now in the museum which, with some other Benin metalwork, was recently presented by Mr. David Murray’. The rest of the article is about visits to various American museums and the British Museum and improvements needed to Adelaide’s museum. Register (Adelaide, SA 1901 - 1929), Wednesday 26 February 1902, page 8. Feb 1901-02 Record of Sir William Ingram’s donation of ’30 Ethnological specimens from various localities’. AA298-14-1-9 - Donations to SA Museum Book 4 - page 78. 08.03.1902 Newspaper article in the Adelaide Observer, page 3 – the same article as that published on 26.02.1902 in Adelaide’s Register newspaper. This copy is, however, easier to read. It is in ‘The Traveller’ section with the heading ‘Professor Stirling’s Travels’ and the sub-heading ‘Notes on Museums’. Adelaide Observer (SA 1843 - 1904), Saturday 8 March 1902, page 3. 30.06.1902 Annual Report, 1901-02, pages 8 and 21. Records Ingram’s donations. On page 8 – ‘a fine bronze plaque from Benin City, West Africa as well as a number of New Guinea and Polynesian articles of interest’. On page 21 – ‘2 Humming Birds, 30 Ethnological specimens from various localities’. The ‘Ethnological specimens’ include those noted on page 8. Annual Report 1901-02. 06.11.1902 Newspaper articles in two Adelaide newspapers – the Advertiser, page 4 and the Express and Telegraph, page 2, titled ‘Gifts to the Museum’. Sir William Ingram’s donations of the bronze plaque from Benin and specimens from New Guinea and Polynesia are mentioned as donations received during the year ended June 1902. Advertiser (Adelaide, SA 1889 - 1931), Thursday 6 November 1902, page 4. Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA 1867 - 1922), Thursday 6 November 1902, page 2. Another article on the same date is in Adelaide’s Register on page 3. This is a longer article titled ‘Public Library Board’, sub-heading ‘Extracts from Annual Report – General’. Sir William Ingram’s donations are mentioned in Stirling’s part of the report. Register (Adelaide, SA 1901 - 1929), Thursday 6 November 1902, page 3. 1928—1950 Extended loan of Benin material to AGSA. See Correspondence file: 29 May, 18 July and September 1950. Petty (22.08.1983) notes that AGSA has frequently questioned the assignment of these pieces to the SA Museum. Letter dated 29.05.1950 not located. Letter dated 18.07.1950: AA298 - Correspondence June to August 1950. Letter in September1950 not located. 22.08.1983 Graeme Pretty presents paper to the SA Museum Board discussing the merits of a proposal to repatriate the Museum’s Benin material to Nigeria. Graeme Pretty 22081983.   Biographical notes Edward Charles Stirling (1848—1919) was the Director of the South Australian Museum from 1884 to 1912. He was buying artefacts for SAM from Webster from as early as December 1897. David Murray (1829—1907) was an Adelaide-based merchant and politician. Murray’s import and export business took him on ten round trips between Australia and England, and he finally settled back in London in March 1900. He was also an art collector and critic who purchased on behalf of the Board of Governors of the Adelaide Public Library. (see Australian Dictionary of Biography). William James Ingram (1847—1924) was a British politician and the Managing Director of The Illustrated London News. He married Stirling’s sister in 1874. Stirling visited Ingram in England in 1899 and was given a collection of ethnographic material that included ‘a bronze’.
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