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Female figure with mirror

The figure originally belonged to the altar group of a queen mother. She holds a mirror, which was regarded as a "window" to the world of spiritual forces. Mirrors were used to ward off dangerous forces during ceremonial appearances by the king and queen mother. [Benin_Kingdom]

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Data Provider
Ethnologisches Museum
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Cataloguing data

Object type
Plastic
Dimensions
Gewicht: 2,43 kg
Objektmaß: 26 x 9 x 8 cm
Material/Technique
Brass
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
III C 8530

Provenance and sources

where
Benin [kingdom]

when
18th century-19th century.
where
Nigeria [Land]
Benin [Königreich]

who
Königliches Ethnographisches Museum München - Former Possessors

Description
17th century, commissioned by the Igun Eronmwon or guild of brass casters in the Kingdom of Benin; ownership before 1897 currently unknown; probably looted in connection with the British conquest of Benin, 1897; in unknown possession after the conquest of the Kingdom of Benin; acquired in exchange with the Museum für Völkerkunde München, 1898.

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