Related oral histories

1 interviews

Provenance

9 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

some day in March 1897 to September 10, 1898

The object is known to have come into contact with Eduard Schmidt.

Gift

1898 (approximate)

The object was given as a gift by Eduard Schmidt to Wilhelm II with its destination in Germany.

Gift

1898 (approximate) to 1941

The object was given as a gift by Wilhelm II to Gerhard Merx in Germany.

Purchase

1941 to 1952

The object was purchased by Ludwig Bretschneider from Germany to Munich.

Purchase

1952

The object was purchased by the Museum Fünf Kontinente, Staatliche Museen in Bayern from Ludwig Bretschneider in Munich.

Unknown

1956 to November 1957

The object is known to have come into contact with Ernst Kofler, later in Luzern.

Purchase

September 1957 to November 1957

The object was purchased by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts from Ernst Kofler from Luzern to Minneapolis.

Institution data

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2021-08-30

Language: english

Institution field	Value
ObjectID object id	1358
ObjectName designation object type	Water pitcher
Description description	Aquamanile (water pitcher for handwashing) in the shape of a leopard; covered with incised spots and small punch marks; small lid on top of head missing
Medium material	Bronze
Dimensions dimensions	17 x 26 in. (43.18 x 66.04 cm)
Dated date made	1700-1800
Country production place	Nigeria (Benin Kingdom)
CreditLine prior source	The Miscellaneous Works of Art Purchase Fund
Provenance prior source provenance	[…?]; By 1898: Gift, with its identical pendant, of Consul E. Schmidt to Emperor Wilhelm II Of Germany; Date unknown: Gift of the pair of pitchers by Wilhelm II to his personal doctor, Dr. Gerhard Merx; 1952: Sale of the pair to the Museum of Völkerkunde (now Museum Fünf Kontinente), Munich by dealer Ludwig Brettschneider, Munich; 1956: Deaccessioning of one pitcher by the Munich Museum; Fall of 1957: Sold by dealer Ernst Kofler, Luzern to Mia
Culture ethnic attribution	Edo
CuratorialRemarks notes	While the Minneapolis and Munich leopard pitchers formed a pair, separated in 1956, they appear to have slightly different hues. This may be related to their different chemical composition, which transpires from documents kept at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Museum Fünf Kontinente in Munich.
Notes notes	From Registration: If this piece travels in the future, note that it needs to be packed upright, either supported on its feet or suspended from the midsection. It should not ride on its side. The problem is that sandy matrix shakes loose from inside and would be very abrasive in travel against the piece. Contact between this sand and the bronze should be minimalized as much as possible.
Exhibitions exhibition history	* "The Classical Art of redacted Africa," organized by Duveen-Graham, New York, in cooperation with the Minneapolis Institute of Art; New York November 26 - December 14, 1957, Minneapolis January 8 - February 9, 1958 * "Masterpieces of African and Oceanic Art," Des Moines Art Center, Greenwood Park, Des Moines, Iowa. February - March, 1962 * "Africa and the Renaissance: Art in Ivory," Center for African Art, New York, Nov. 16, 1988 - April 9, 1989 * "Animals in African Art: From the Familiar to the Marvelous," Museum for African Art, New York, March 31 - December 31, 1995; Mint Museum, Charlotte, October 26, 1996 - January 5, 1997; Dallas Museum of Art, February 2 - April 27, 1997
Bibliography bibliography	* Duveen-Graham Modern Gallery. 1957. The Classical Art of redacted Africa, cat. 45 and p. 1. New York * A. Clark and S. Sachs II. 1966. "The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 1915-1965," in Archaeology Magazine, vol. 19/1, p. 10 * Susan Vogel and Carol Thompson, eds. 1988. Africa and the Renaissance: Art in Ivory, p. 215. New York and Munich * Allen Roberts and Carol Thompson. 1995. Animals in African Art: From the Familiar to the Marvelous, p. 175. New York and Munich
ObjectNumber	58.9

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