Object ID
1954.145.44
Edo designations
English designations
Commemorative Head
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Heads
Location
10 Art Museum Dr, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
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Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head

Iconographies

4 annotations
Beaded Crown
Ẹde
Beaded Crown

Although many other members of the Benin royal court wore a variety of hats and forms of headwear, only the Ọba may wear the Ẹde (beaded crown). The Ọba must never be seen bare-headed, and successive Ọbas introduced different styles and types of crowns ( ).

Across different media and objects, Ọbas are depicted wearing various types of crowns, all elaborately crafted from coral beads. Some feature tall projections rising from the crown, known as Oro, while others have curved projections extending from either side of the head, known as the winged cap. The latter was introduced only in the 19th century, most likely by Ọba Osẹmwẹndẹ ( ). Depictions of Ọba Esigie on Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques) show him wearing an elaborate crown decorated with large jasper or coral beads ( ).

1 annotation
Ẹde
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

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
1950 (uncertain/approximate) to 1954
The object is known to have come into contact with Alan Wurtzburger, later in Baltimore.
Gift
1954
The object was given as a gift by Alan Wurtzburger to the Baltimore Museum of Art in Baltimore.

Institution data

Baltimore Museum of Art
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2021-03-04
Language: english
Institution fieldValue
Object ID
object id
1954.145.44
Object Name
designation
object type
Commemorative Head of a King (Oba)
Description
description
Idealization of Oba as genre.
Medium
material
Copper alloy
Dimensions
dimensions
20 1/4 x 11 x 11 in. (51.4 x 28 x 28 cm.)
Century
date made
19th century
Date
date made
1848-1897
Origin
production place
Kingdom of Benin, Nigeria
Credit Line
prior source
Gift of Alan Wurtzburger
Provenance
provenance
Collection Area
place collected
AFRICAN
Reign
reign associated name
Adolo (r. 1848–1888) or Ovonramwen (r. 1888–1897)
Culture
ethnic attribution
Edo
Department
department and institution
Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific Islands
Notes
notes
Per Christine Downie & Angie Elliott, BMA Conservation: CAD treated 2008, needs XRF.
Publication History
bibliography
Frederick John Lamp, "See the Music Hear the Dance: Rethinking African Art at the Baltimore Museum of Art." New York: Prestel, 2003, p.246, ill. 'The Intercollegian,' Vol. 78, no. 5, Jan-Feb. 1961, p. 11 repro. Members Calendar, BMA, Feb. 1985 CAA Newsletter, Spring, 1982, p. 12 'The City's Pride,' I, 5, Jan. 1983, p. 9 The BMA Members Calendar, 1 and 2, 1983 The Baltimore Museum of Art. "A Picture Book." The Baltimore Museum of Art Record, 1955: ill. p. 93. BMA. African Spirit Series brochure 2003-2004. ill. Baltimore Museum of Art. The Baltimore Museum of Art: Celebrating a Museum. Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 2014.
Sensitive Content

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