Provenance

5 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

1950s to June 5, 1959

The object is known to have come into contact with Aaron Furman, later in New York City.

Purchase

June 5, 1959

The object was purchased by Joseph Herman Hirshhorn and D.C Washington Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden from Aaron Furman Gallery and Aaron Furman from New York City to Washington, D.C..

Donation

August 28, 1992

The object was donated by D.C Washington Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History with its destination in Washington, D.C..

Institution data

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2022-01-18

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Accession number object id	370312
Catalog # object id	E428170-0
Object Name designation	Hip Mask Pendant
Material material	Copper alloy
Measurement dimensions	Length 17 cm; Width 15 cm; Height 6 cm
Index Term object type	Mask
Count object count	1
Date created date made	18th-19th century
Site production place	Nigeria, Edo State / Kingdom of Benin, Benin City
Donor / Transactor prior source	Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
Collector provenance
Date collected date collected	Before 1959
Culture ethnic attribution	Edo
Accession date accession date	8/28/92
Notes notes	Provenience undocumented (Benin City, Nigeria, 18th-19th c dates based on chronology for Benin bronzes established by William Fagg and Philip Dark; Aaron Furman Gallery of New York to 6/5/59; Joseph Hirshhorn purchase 6/5/59 to 5/17/66). Identification provided by Hirshhorn Museum (HMSG). Vetted by William Fagg and Philip Dark for HMSG. Exhibited in HMSG's "Benin Art," Dec. 1978 - (?) 1980. Was on loan to National Museum of American History (NMAH), recalled fall 1998. Exhibited in NMNH "African Voices" 1999 - present. Description: brass hip mask depicts stylized face with bulging eyes, wide nose, thick lips. Scarification across forehead. Wears semi-circular shaped headdress with diamond-shaped openwork in front, studded with 5-petals flowers. Row of flanges along lower jaw with 4 flanges missing. Below the flanges is a row of loops. 2 big loops are in the back of hollow mask, one on top and one on bottom. Stained white in places. SI Archives acc. 86-136, box 2 From African Voices exhibit: "This miniature mask representing the king would have been worn on the belt of a high-ranking Benin chief."
Digital negative # images	99-21301; 99-500
Online record weblink	http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3d6e03a02-80e6-45f1-873f-aaf3ca613b77
Photos Online?	yes

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