Catalogue
Catalog #
E428171-0
Institution
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Edo designations
English designations
Commemorative Head
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Heads
Location
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560, United States
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head

Provenance

4 events
Production
unknown to June 5, 1959
The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.
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 fieldValue
Accession number
object id
370312
Catalog #
object id
E428171-0
Object Name
designation
Memorial Head of Ancestor
Material
material
Terracotta
Measurement
dimensions
Length 15 cm; Width 11 cm; Height 21.5 cm (W/ Base)
Index Term
object type
Sculpture
Count
object count
1
Date created
date made
18th 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 c?; Aaron Furman Gallery of NY to 6/5/59; Joseph Hirshhorn purchase 6/5/59 to 5/17/66). Identification provided by Hirshhorn Museum (HMSG). Gift from Joseph Hirshhorn Foundation. Item made for ancestor shrine of Benin bronze casters. Vetted by William Fagg & Philip Dark for HMSG. Dark questioned accuracy of an 18th c date. Was exhibited in HMSG's "Benin Art," Dec. 1978 - (?) 1980 & National Museum of African Art's "From the Earth: African Ceramic Art," May 17 - Oct. 1, 1983. Description: Reddish-brown terra-cotta head is screwed to a black, rectangular wooden base. Has large, almond-shaped eyes with incised pupils, flat, wide nose, carved lips. Across forehead are 6 depressions (scarification marks), 3 on either side of an Ibo mark. Hairstyle is short, cut closely to head with incised hair pattern in a coiled manner. Top of head has a deep hole (for insertion of a tusk?). Condition: some minor losses. SI Archives acc. 86-136, box 2
Digital negative #
images
NMNH-2022-00234; NMNH-2022-00235; NMNH-2022-00236; NMNH-2022-00237; NMNH-2022-00238; NMNH-2022-00239; NMNH-2022-00240; NMNH-2022-00241; NMNH-2022-00242; NMNH-2022-00243
Online record
weblink
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/32d6c22ba-f37d-488f-8685-cef8c8fe5093
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