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 February 1897 Unknown member of the British colonial military campaign on Benin from Benin Kingdom.

Unknown

1971 to 1992

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

Purchase

1992

The object was purchased by the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields from Pace Primitive through Emma Harter Sweetser Fund from New York City to Indianapolis.

Institution data

Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2021-04-17

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Accession Number object id	1992.62
Previous Number(s) object id	TR7728
Title designation	staff with bird figure
Object Label description	Bird staffs serve as hand-held clappers during court rituals. They are played by striking the bird's beak with a metal rod. These staffs symbolize the power of the king over natural and supernatural forces, and recall a famous military victory of a Benin King.
Materials material	brass
Medium material
Dimensions dimensions	10-1/2 in.
Object Type object type	sculptures, staffs
Date Created date made	mid-18th century to mid-19th century
Creation Location production place	Nigeria
Credit Line prior source	Emma Harter Sweetser Fund
Provenance provenance	(Pace Primitive Gallery, New York, New York); purchased by the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, Indianapolis, Indiana in 1992.
Culture or People ethnic attribution	Benin Kingdom, Edo people
Accession Date accession date	1992-07-01
Exhbitions exhibition history
Rights license	Public Domain
URL weblink	http://collection.imamuseum.org/artwork/29431/
Number of Parts	1
Support	brass

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