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Memorial head of a queen mother (Iyoba)

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The memorial head of a queen mother (Iyoba) - recognisable by the shape of her crown - shows the face of a young woman smiling cautiously. Nevertheless, this sculpture is less a representation of a person's individuality than a highly idealised courtly portrait. Because of its iconography and age, this memorial head could be a representation of Idia, the first Queen Mother, whose office and title of Iyoba was introduced by King (Oba) Esigie in the early 16th century. His mother, Idia, played an important role in the war against the neighbouring Igala. Oral tradition interprets the fish at the base of the memorial head as an indication that Idia drove the enemy Igala army back across the Niger. Queen mothers in Benin - as in many other African kingdoms - had a prominent political position. Like the kings, a memorial shrine was erected for them after their death, on which memorial heads were placed.

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Cataloguing data

Object type
Plastic
Dimensions
Weight: 4,1 kg
Height: 51 cm
Width: 16 cm
Depth: 18 cm
Depth: 52 cm
Height: 51 cm
Depth: 18 cm
Width: 16 cm
Material/Technique
Bronze, copper alloy, Iron, iron, Brass
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
III C 12507
Related object(s)

Provenance and sources

  • Production
    where
    Benin [kingdom]
  • Collecting
    who
    J.C. Stevens - Former Possessors
  • Change of legal title:
    Acquisition
    Description
    16th century, commissioned by the Igun Eronmwon or guild of brass casters in the Kingdom of Benin; location unknown in the Kingdom of Benin until 1897; looted in connection with the British conquest of Benin, 1897; possibly owned by Sir Ralph Moor after the conquest of the Kingdom of Benin; acquired at an auction of Stevens' Auction Rooms Ltd, London (J.C. Stevens), from funds of a loan from Valentin Weisbach by the commissioned firm of Theodor Francke, 1901.
  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    Africa

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED
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