Provenance

3 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.

Auction

June 26, 1952

The object was auctioned to the Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria through Sotheby's, Colonial Government of Nigeria and Bernard Evelyn Buller Fagg in London.

Institution data

Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria

The data was transferred directly by the institution and digitized by Digital Benin in collaboration with the NCMM

Last updated: 2023-11-30

Languages: english, bini; edo

Institution field	Value
Inventory number object id	LG1952.32.2
URL weblink	https://digitalbenin.org/catalogue/37_LG1952322
Object Description description	Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ (pendant masks) is a general term, however each mask has a different name depending on the subject depicted. For example, if an Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ depicted Iy’ọba Idia it would be called ‘Uhunmwun-Idia’. Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ are one of the best-known categories of Benin artworks. A range of human and animal heads are depicted, hence the term ‘mask’, although they were not used to cover the face. Sometimes known as ‘hip masks’, they may be worn on the belt or hung at the hip as seen cast on relief plaques and in the carved motifs on altar tusks. Many pendant masks have a series of eyelets around the edge of the lower portion, to which small crotal bells were attached, and as the wearer moved they would have chimed. The material – ivory or brass – and the iconography depicted were important factors in who was able to wear the masks and why. For example, leopard-head pendant masks may be worn by warriors and those involved in the military, and ivory masks only by the high-ranking Ezomo or Iyase (Blackmun in Plankensteiner, 2007, p.363). Meanwhile, brass crocodile-head pendant masks were the preserve of the Ọba, and he wore them in a set of three along the front of his belt (Blackmun in Plankensteiner, 2007, p.365). Oftentimes, pendant masks also depict human faces, usually but not always, male. Although scholars do not agree, it has been argued these may depict the Ọba, or perhaps defeated chiefs (Blackmun in Plankensteiner, 2007, pp.358, 362). The faces of Portuguese men are also identifiable by their straight hair and beards, and attest to the importance of relationships between the Benin Kingdom and Portugal in the 16th century. The beautiful Queen Idia pendant masks, carved in ivory and which went on to become emblematic of FESTAC ‘77, are the notable exception to the predominantly male depictions on pendant masks.
Diameter dimensions
Dimension L (cm) dimensions	16.0
Dimension W (cm) dimensions	9.7
Dimension H (cm) dimensions	5.0
Brief Object Description designation	Leopard head pendant mask
Material material	brass
Object Count object count	1
Date Made date made
Associated Guild producer	Igun Ẹrọnmwọn
Production Technique production technique	Casting
Production Place production place	Benin City
Inscriptions inscriptions
Note
Inventory Book Description	Bronze leopard mask from Benin. Purchased by the Nigerian government from Messrs. Sotheby & Co. 34-5 New Bond Street, London, being lots of 24 through M. B.E.B. Fagg, assistant surveyor of antiquities, bought at a sale on 26th of June, 1952. Lots owned by Neville.
fileNames	LG1952322_1.jpg, LG1952322_2.jpg

Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria

The data was transferred directly from the institution and transcribed by the Digital Benin from Inventory book.

Last updated: 2021-02-19

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Inventory No object id	LG 1952. 32. 2
Department of Antiquities Nigerian Museum Catalogue provenance	Purchased by the Nigerian government from Messrs. Sotheby & Co. 34-5 New Bond Street, London, being lots of 24 through M. B. E. Fagg, assistant surveyor of antiquities, bought at a sale on 26th of June, 1952. Bronze leopard mask from Benin 110 £. Lots owned by Neville according to catalogue.
Object Name (as specified in the 2019 Lagos National Museum store/gallery inventory)	Benin bronze leopard head pendant.

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Provenance

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Institution data