Uhunmwu-Elao

Language: Bini
Language: Bini

Memorial head of an Edo king

Contact the institution

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

Cataloguing data

Cultural attribution
Edo
Object type
Plastik
Dimensions
H 52 cm; D 26 cm; Weight: approx. 30 kg
52.00 cm
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 (Old inventory number)
Linden-Museum: 3173 (Old inventory number)

Provenance and sources

  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    Ethnographic study collection
  • Production
    when
    ca. 1850
    where
    Benin City
    Edo
    Nigeria
    Westafrika
    Afrika
    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)
  • Use
    when
    ca. 1850-1897
    where
    Benin City
    Edo
    Nigeria
    Westafrika
    Afrika
    Description
    Addition to the place: Capital of the kingdom and seat of the present state of Edo State (Nigeria)
  • Change of physical control
    when
    1897
    where
    Benin City
    Edo
    Nigeria
    Westafrika
    Afrika
    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)
  • Change of physical control:
    Not clarified
    when
    between February and August 1897
    where
    Lagos
    Nigeria
    Westafrika
    Afrika
    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.
  • Change of physical control:
    Purchase
    when
    14.07.1898
    where
    Berlin
    Deutschland
    who
    Schoeller, Max - Owners
  • Change of physical control:
    Donation
    when
    06.12.1898
    where
    Stuttgart
    Baden-Württemberg
    Deutschland
    who
    Schoeller, Max - Donors
    Linden-Museum Stuttgart - Owners
    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).
  • Change of physical control:
    Exchange
    when
    15.12.1971
    where
    Stuttgart
    Baden-Württemberg
    Deutschland
    who
    Linden-Museum Stuttgart - Former Owners
    Description
    JGU Mainz received object in exchange with Linden-Museum.

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC0 1.0 DEED

Related objects

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