Catalogue
Object Number
1991.17.9
Institution
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Edo designations
English designations
Trophy Head
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Heads
Location
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, United States
Trophy Head
Trophy Head

Provenance

6 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
unknown to 1990
The object is known to have come into contact with Rosemary & George Lois, later in Chicago.
Auction
July 3, 1990
The object was auctioned to Patricia Ann Withofs through Christie's in London.
Purchase
1990
The object was purchased by Klaus Gunther & Amelia 'Dolly' Perls from Patricia Ann Withofs from London to New York City.
Gift
1991
The object was given as a gift by Klaus Gunther & Amelia 'Dolly' Perls to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Institution data

Metropolitan Museum of Art
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2021-07-30
Language: english
Institution fieldValue
Object Number
object id
1991.17.9
Object Sort Number
object id
1991 17 9
Primary Rendition No
object id
DT6555
Title
designation
object type
Figure: Male Head
Medium
material
Brass, iron
Dimensions
dimensions
H. 9 1/2 × W. 6 1/4 × D. 7 1/4 in. (24.1 × 15.9 × 18.4 cm)
Classification
object type
Metal-Sculpture
Date
date made
15th–19th century
Geo: City
production place
Court of Benin
Geo: Country
production place
Nigeria
Credit Line
prior source
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1991
Provenance
provenance
Rosemary and George Lois, Chicago; (Christie's, South Kensington, London, July 3, 1990, no. 53); [Patricia Ann Withofs, London and Sydney, until 1990]; Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1990–1991
Dynasty
reign associated name
Oranmiyan
Culture
ethnic attribution
Edo peoples
ExhibitionHistory
exhibition history
Royal Art of Benin from the Perls Collection The Metropolitan Museum of Art, January 16, 1992–September 13,1992
Bibliography
bibliography
Ezra, Kate. Royal Art of Benin: The Perls Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1992, pp. 38–39, no. 5.
Published References
bibliography
Christie's, London, South Kensington. 1990. Art and Ethnography from Africa, the Pacific and the Americas. Sale catalogue of July 3, 1990: lot 53. "ROYAL ART OF BENIN. The Perls Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art." Kate Ezra. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Harry N. Abrams Inc., New York 1992 Fig. 5
Sensitive Content

Digital Benin collates digital material from institutions, and some of this material is inherently colonial and contains words, terms and phrases that are inaccurate, derogatory and harmful towards African and African diasporic communities. Catalogue transcriptions, book titles, exhibition titles and museum titles may contain harmful terms. We recognise the potential for the material to cause physical and mental distress as well as evoke strong emotions. Owing to the scale of the collection’s data, a process to implement sensitive-content warnings in the displayed data is still incomplete. The material within the catalogue does not represent Digital Benin’s views. Digital Benin maintains a strong anti-colonial, anti-racist position and affirms its support for centring the humanity of historically marginalised and disenfranchised communities. Read more about the background of this statement here

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