Ref. #
EB61
Edo designations
English designations
Commemorative Head
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Heads
Location
200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, United States
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Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head

Iconographies

4 annotations
Ikharo
Forehead markings

Ikharo are linear keloid markings depicted on the forehead of Uhunmwu-Elao (commemorative heads) in groups of three or four above each eye. The exact meaning of Ikharo is debated; some have argued that they relate to the gender or tribal identification of the person on whom they are depicted. For example, has argued that they were worn only by men; however, their use in depictions is not consistent with this, and the Iy’Ọba are also shown wearing them. argued that they are instead a stylistic feature employed by artists that varied over time.

The naming of these markings differs between publications. For example, describe these markings as “agbaguda n'ehae”, which they write translates literally as “blades of the forehead”. However, later went on to call these “ikharo”, as used here. referred to these forehead markings as ikharo, meaning “tribal mark [of eye]”.

1 annotation
Ikharo
Igan
Feather

Igan (feathers) are commonly depicted tucked into the headdresses and hats of chiefs represented on Emwin Arre (royal treasures). These feathers are from the Oɛɣohɔ (vulturine fish eagle) and symbolise respected old age and proper chieftaincy ( ).

1 annotation
Igan
Colar Bead
Odigba
Coral beaded collar

Odigba (coral-beaded collar) is a rigid neck collar made of coral beads, worn as part of ceremonial attire only by senior princes who have been made Enigie (Inneh 2007, p. 107). Although Ibafe (2007, p. 43) argued that the Odigba was introduced during the Ogiso period (c. 900–c. 1170 AD) by Ogiso Ere, along with other symbolically important Emwin Arhe, such as the Ada (ceremonial sword) and the Ẹbẹn (ceremonial sword), this seems unlikely, as coral was only introduced in the late 15th century through trade with Portuguese merchants.

1 annotation
Odigba
Udahae
Beaded forehead band

The Udahae is a forehead band made from coral beads and worn by chiefs. Sometimes a white Igan (feather) from the Oɛɣohɔ (vulturine fish eagle) is tucked into the left side of the Udahae. According to Benin oral tradition, the Udahae was introduced by Ọba Ezoti, the first son of Ọba Ewuare I. During his coronation, Ezoti was shot in the forehead with a poisoned arrow. To stop the bleeding, a band of red beads was wrapped around his forehead while he made public appearances. Fourteen days later, he died from his wound. Since then, Benin chiefs have worn the red-beaded Udahae around their foreheads to commemorate the cap used by Ezoti to stop the bleeding (Egharevba 1968, p. 21).

1 annotation
Udahae

Provenance

3 events
Production
unknown to 1957
The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igbesamwan guild in Benin City.
Unknown
1955 to 1957
The object is known to have come into contact with Delacorte Gallery, later in New York City.
Purchase
1957
The object was purchased by the American Museum of Natural History from Delacorte Gallery in New York City.

Institution data

American Museum of Natural History
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2022-09-10
Language: english
Institution fieldValue
Catalog #
object id
90.2/2410
Ref. #
object id
EB61
Object Name
designation
object type
Figure, Head
Dimensions
dimensions
 L:19.9 W:16 H:27 (in CM)
Country
production place
Nigeria/Benin
Locale
production place
Benin
Donor
prior source
Delacorte
Acq Year
accession date
accession method
1957 Purchase
In HOAP?
No
Sensitive Content

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