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Hip ornament with face

16th–17th 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 man's face was part of such a costume, and was meant to be worn around the waist.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Hip ornament with face
  • Artist: Ìgùn Ẹ́rọ̀nwwọ̀n (brass-casting guild) artists
  • Date: 16th–17th century
  • Geography: Nigeria, Court of Benin
  • Culture: Edo peoples
  • Medium: Brass
  • Dimensions: H. 7 3/8 × W. 5 3/8 × D. 2 1/4 in. (18.7 × 13.7 × 5.7 cm)
  • Classification: Metal-Ornaments
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Klaus G. Perls, 1991
  • Object Number: 1991.17.49
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
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
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
Nkishi (community power figure), Songye artist and nganga (ritual specialist), Wood, copper, brass, iron, fiber, snakeskin, leather, fur, feathers, mud, resin, Songye peoples
Nkishi (community power figure)
Songye artist and nganga (ritual specialist)
19th–first half of 20th century
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
Pendant mask of Ìyọ́bà Idià, Ìgbèsànmwà (ivory- and wood- carving guild) artists, Ivory, iron, brass, coal, traces of iron oxides, Edo peoples
Pendant mask of Ìyọ́bà Idià
Ìgbèsànmwà (ivory- and wood- carving guild) artists
16th century

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