Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Hip ornament with leopard head

16th–19th century
Not on view
Benin history, religion, and political structure are brought to life every year in a series of palace rituals intended to purify the kingdom and renew the spiritual powers of the king, the oba. Many of these vivid and solemn rites were introduced by individual obas in order to commemorate events in their reigns and to promote important principles in the ideology of divine kingship.
At these palace festivals, the powers of the king, the roles of the various chiefs and titleholders, and the relationships between them are displayed for all to see. The arts play an important role in these rituals. The king and other participants wear their most lavish ceremonial costumes, consisting of vast quantities of costly imported coral beads, luxurious textiles, and ornaments made of gleaming brass and creamy ivory. This ornament in the shape of a leopard's head was part of such a costume, and was meant to be worn around the waist.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Hip ornament with leopard head
  • Artist: Ìgùn Ẹ́rọ̀nwwọ̀n (brass-casting guild) artists
  • Date: 16th–19th century
  • Geography: Nigeria, Court of Benin
  • Culture: Edo peoples
  • Medium: Brass, iron
  • Dimensions: H. 7 5/16 × W. 4 3/4 × D. 2 1/4 in. (18.6 × 12.1 × 5.7 cm)
  • Classification: Metal-Ornaments
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1991
  • Object Number: 1991.17.36
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Plaque with Warrior and Attendants, Ìgùn Ẹ́rọ̀nwwọ̀n (brass-casting guild) artists, Brass, Edo peoples
Plaque with Warrior and Attendants
Ìgùn Ẹ́rọ̀nwwọ̀n (brass-casting guild) artists
ca. 1540–70
Ùhúnmwèlaò (head of an ọ́bà), Ìgùn Ẹ́rọ̀nwwọ̀n (brass-casting guild) artists, Brass, iron, Edo peoples
Ùhúnmwèlaò (head of an ọ́bà)
Ìgùn Ẹ́rọ̀nwwọ̀n (brass-casting guild) artists
Early 15th–mid-16th century
Commode à vantaux, David Roentgen German, Oak, pine, walnut, mahogany, and cherry veneered with hornbeam (partially stained), tulipwood, walnut, holly and maple (both partially stained), boxwood, mahogany, and other woods; red brocatelle marble; gilt bronze; iron, steel, and brass, German, Neuwied am Rhein
Commode à vantaux
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1775–79 with later alterations
Court official from a commemorative altar, Ìgùn Ẹ́rọ̀nwwọ̀n (brass-casting guild) artists, Brass, iron, Edo peoples
Court official from a commemorative altar
Ìgùn Ẹ́rọ̀nwwọ̀n (brass-casting guild) artists
16th–17th century
Flintlock Longrifle, Jacob Kuntz American, Wood (maple), steel, iron, brass, silver, bone, horn, American, Philadelphia
Flintlock Longrifle
Gunsmith Jacob Kuntz
ca. 1810–20

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.