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Head of a king

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Ivory masks of this type are very rare. Whether they depict a king or the queen mother is uncertain. The crown of coral beads allows both interpretations. A chain of stylised catfish runs around the base of the neck. This ivory mask was probably only worn by the king as protection. This could be reinforced by placing medicine in a pouch on the inside of the mask.

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Data Provider
Ethnologisches Museum Show original at data provider

Cataloguing data

Object type
Belt mask
Dimensions
Height: 17,5 cm
Depth: 6 cm
Width: 8,5 cm
Material/Technique
Ivory
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
III C 26373

Provenance and sources

  • Production
    where
    Benin [kingdom]
  • Production
    when
    18th cent.
    where
    Nigeria
    Benin
  • Collecting
    who
    William Downing Webster (1868-05-11 - 1913-01-14) - Former Possessors
  • Change of legal title:
    Acquisition
    Description
    Commissioned from the Igun Eronmwon brass foundry guild in the Kingdom of Benin in the 18th century; probably looted in connection with the British conquest of Benin, 1897; in unknown possession after Feb. 1897; collected by William J. Ansorge in Nigeria before 1905; auctioned by J.C. Stevens, 1909; acquired by William D. Webster, 1910.
  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    Africa

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED
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