


| Institution field | Value |
|---|---|
Archival documentation ID object id | ABDUA:64906 |
Exceptional commemorative head of a king description | Edo, Kingdom of Benin, Nigeria, late 18th century Cast bronze, the base with interlaced ornament and a series of animal figures in high relief, a high cylinder of bead necklaces enveloping the neck and chin, the face with full lips and angular nose, recessed pupils to the large eyes, three keloids in relief above each hatched brow, adorned with a pearl punctuating the middle of the forehead, the latticework beaded headdress with four attached clusters of five beads and two diagonal beads to the front, beaded tassels cast in relief before and behind the ears and joining the base, a large aperture at the top of the head for the insertion of ivory tusks, dark patina |
Provenance: provenance | British Benin Punitive Expedition 1897 Mr. Sidney Burney 1878 - 1951 Mr. H.B. Bell-Syer Sotheby’s, London, 18th March 1957, lot 196 Aberdeen University, acquired at the above |
Note: notes | The present piece is a superb example of Benin Late Period Art. The cylindrical shape, extended beaded collar covering the chin, addition of bead clusters to the crown and wide flange at the base all suggest a late eighteenth-century date. The form is that of uhunmwun-elao, representing an oba. He is identified by the royal crown (ede), the frontal band (udahae) adorned with a pearl punctuating the middle of the forehead and a multi-row necklace (odigba), all composed of coral beads. The beautiful tension of the face projected forward is accentuated by the large eyes staring intently onwards. There is exceptional quality of casting, with fine detailing and modelling throughout. |
For a similar example please see: | Segy, L. African Sculpture Speaks. Fig. 103 |
fileNames | abdua-64906.jpg, abdua-64906_1.jpg, abdua-64906_2.jpg, abdua-64906_3.jpg, abdua-64906_4.jpg, abdua-64906_5.jpg, abdua-64906_6.jpg, abdua-64906_7.jpg, abdua-64906_8.jpg, abdua-64906_9.jpg, abdua-64906_10.jpg, abdua-64906_11.jpg, abdua-64906_12.jpg, abdua-64906_13.jpg, abdua-64906_14.jpg, abdua-64906_15.jpg |
| Institution field | Value |
|---|---|
Information from catalogue/Number object id | ABDUA:64906 |
Information from catalogue/Name designation | Oba king of Benin |
Information from catalogue/Description, material. description | Bronze bust, for the altar of a deceased Oba (or King of Benin) Flange at base, deep high collar, plain crown |
Dimensions/Height dimensions | 280 mm |
Dimensions/Width dimensions | 175 mm |
Provenance provenance | See "Internal Data III" for historical provenance. Transfer from the University of Aberdeen to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments on 28 October 2021, handed by NCMM to HRM the Oba of Benin on 19 February 2022. |
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