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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 Show original at data provider

Cataloguing data

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

Provenance and sources

  • Production
    where
    Benin [kingdom]
  • Production
    when
    18th century-19th century.
    where
    Nigeria
    Benin
  • Collecting
    who
    Königliches Ethnographisches Museum München - Former Possessors
  • Change of legal title:
    Acquisition
    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.
  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    Africa

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED
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