Uhunmwu-Elao

Language: Bini
Language: Bini
Memorial head of an Edo king

The memorial head stood on an altar in the royal palace in honour of a deceased king. Such altars were and are erected by the royal successor during the funeral rituals. They connect the new king with his royal ancestors and legitimise his rule / In September 2020, JGU Mainz offered to return the memorial head to Nigeria. English (Digital Benin): The commemorative head, Uhunmwu Elao, of an Ọba placed at the king's ancestral shrine could be made from bronze, wood or terra-cotta. The altar consists of a commemorative head that supported the carved ivory tusk. It could have a circular base or a rectangular-shaped base. However, they all have a unifying feature, which is the hole at the centre in which the tusk is placed.

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Data Provider
Sammlungen der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
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Cataloguing data

Cultural attribution
Edo
Object type
Plastik
Dimensions
H 52 cm; D 26 cm; Gewicht: ca. 30 kg
Material/Technique
brass (alloy)
moulded
Object genre
sculpture
Current location
Sammlungen der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Inventory number
JGU ES 2595
Other number(s)
2595
Linden-Museum: 3173

Provenance and sources

when
ca. 1850
where
Benin City
who
uns nicht bekannt - Role not clarified
Description
Addition to the place: Capital of the kingdom and seat of the present state of Edo State (Nigeria)

when
ca. 1850-1897
where
Benin City
Description
Addition to the place: Capital of the kingdom and seat of the present state of Edo State (Nigeria)

when
1897
where
Benin City
who
Britische Kolonialtruppen - Role not clarified
Description
Addition to the place: Capital of the kingdom and seat of the present state of Edo State (Nigeria)

when
between February and August 1897
where
Lagos
who
Schmidt, Eduard (1895-1899) - Owners
Description
If Schmidt bought from members of the British military, then this is a criminal offence of receiving stolen goods.

when
14.07.1898
where
Berlin
who
Schoeller, Max - Owners

when
06.12.1898
where
Stuttgart
who
Description
M. Schoeller gave the memorial head (and other objects) to the Linden-Museum in exchange for the award of the Knight's Cross 1st Class of the Order of Frederick (decree of the King of Württemberg dated 10 April 1899).

when
15.12.1971
where
Stuttgart
who
Linden-Museum Stuttgart - Former Owners
Description
JGU Mainz received object in exchange with Linden-Museum.

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
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