Object ID
X65.9084
Edo designations
English designations
Commemorative Head
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Heads
Location
308 Charles E Young Dr N, Los Angeles, CA 90024, United States
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Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
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
Ititi ako
Star beads

The Ititi ako is a cluster of coral beads, usually three or four, attached to a pin and used to embellish the royal crowns on Uhunmwu-Elao (commemorative heads) and Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ (pendant masks). These bead clusters are also known as star beads, which indicate the prosperous destiny of an individual or wearer. Apart from enhancing the appearance of the wearer, they also represent the individual’s high social status. Judging from their presence on a variety of head sculptures, both men and women wore Ititi ako.

1 annotation
Ititi ako
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

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.
Auction
November 12, 1907
The object was auctioned to the Wellcome Collection, London Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine and Henry Solomon Wellcome through Stevens Auction Rooms in London.
Gift
1965
The object was given as a gift by Wellcome Trust to the Fowler Museum at UCLA from London to Los Angeles.

Related archival documents

1 documents
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Date

Institution data

Fowler Museum at UCLA
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2021-07-30
Language: english
Institution fieldValue
Object ID
object id
X65.9084
description
description
brass head
Materials
material
COPPER ALLOY
Dimensions
dimensions
H: 37.78 cm, DIAM: 20.32 cm
Object Name
object type
HEAD
Date
date made
1907
Geographical area
production place
BENIN KINGDOM, BENIN CITY, NIGERIA
Party
prior source
Stevens' Auction Rooms Ltd., Sir Henry Wellcome, Wellcome Trust
Evidence 1
provenance
From Stevens auction 11/12/1907, Lot 2 "Large bronze head, used as a base for holding a elephant's tusk, placed at the sides of sacrificial altar at Benin"
Evidence 2
provenance
Country Culture
ethnic attribution
Benin
Culture Group
ethnic attribution
EDO (NIGERIAN)
Party Notes
notes
"Large bronze head, used as a base for holding a elephant's tusk, placed at the sides of sacrificial altar at Benin"
summary of curatorial notes archival research thus far summer 2021
notes
Purchased at Stevens auction November 12, 1907 (lot 2) "Large bronze head, used as a base for holding a elephant's tusk, placed at the sides of sacrificial altar at Benin." Lots surrounding this one (# 1 and #4) include mention of the seige, but not lot. Visual observations suggest it was possibly damaged in a fire-- unclear when fire occured.
status
legal status
needs more research (check sale before at Stevens-- these objects were left over from previous sale)
Old Numbers
R1591/1937
Party Lot Number
2
provenance list known dates
1907 (November 12): Sold at Stevens' Auction Rooms Ltd [lot 2] "Large bronze head, used as base for holding a elephant's tusk, placed at the sides of sacrifical altar at Benin" 1965 Gift of the Wellcome Trust to Fowler Museum (then Museum and Laboratories of Ethnic Arts and Technology)
Sensitive Content

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