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Memorial head
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The few surviving commemorative heads from Udo, which probably date from the 16th and 17th centuries, show an independent style compared to the commemorative heads from Benin, and the use of brass and the necklaces made of coral beads indicate the high rank of the sitters. According to oral tradition, Udo, a town about 65 kilometres from Benin City, was conquered by King Ozolua at the end of the 15th century and remained dependent on Benin. Ozolua initially installed one of his sons as ruler of Udo. When Esigie, also a son of Ozolua, was crowned his successor, there were disputes between the brothers over the succession to the throne. Esigie had Udo destroyed in a military operation and decreed that no member of the royal family should rule Udo in future, only a dignitary who was dependent on the king of Benin.

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Data Provider
Ethnologisches Museum
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Cataloguing data

Object type
Plastic
Dimensions
Allgemein: ca. 22,00 x 15,00 x 17,00 cm
Gewicht: 4,4 kg
Material/Technique
Brass
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
III C 12508
Related object(s)
Activity : Vorgang: E 1041/1899, Erwerbung: I/39/1901: III C 12507-12510, drei Köpfe, ein glockenförmiger Gegenstand (Benin), J.C. Stevens - Theodor Francke beauftr. Agent (Firma) - Val. Weisbach Erben -- Antrag von Luschan betr. Reise nach London zur Besichtigung von Benin-Altertümern (4.10.1899) -- Korr. zw. Mattika (Agent für Auktion) und Luschan wg. Auktionsmodaltäten, Absprache des Limits (S. 126-127), sowie Listen der Objekte (S. 129-130). Brief Luschans (S. 131). -- Schreiben Luschan an Valentin Weisbach, bittet um 5000 Mark Darlehen für MV für das Etatjahr für Benin Auktion (4.10.1899) -- Luschan Anfrage an Dr. Hans Meyer (z.Z. Kaiserhof, Berlin) wg. ev. Wünsche oder Aufträge für Auktion an Ihn (4.10.1899) -- Luschan an Stevens um sein Kommen anzukündigen (7.10.1899) + weiterer Brief Luschans (S. 132) -- Luschan an Baessler (S. 133) und AW Baessler (S. 134) -- GV Aktenvermerke und Notizen Bastian (S. 135) -- Beilage (S. 92): 2 Auktionskataloge 1899 J.C. Stephens (Curiosities), 1899, J.C. Stevens (1899)
Vorgang: E 1041/1899, Erwerbung: I/39/1901: III C 12507-12510, drei Köpfe, ein glockenförmiger Gegenstand (Benin), J.C. Stevens - Theodor Francke beauftr. Agent (Firma) - Val. Weisbach Erben -- Antrag von Luschan betr. Reise nach London zur Besichtigung von Benin-Altertümern (4.10.1899) -- Korr. zw. Mattika (Agent für Auktion) und Luschan wg. Auktionsmodaltäten, Absprache des Limits (S. 126-127), sowie Listen der Objekte (S. 129-130). Brief Luschans (S. 131). -- Schreiben Luschan an Valentin Weisbach, bittet um 5000 Mark Darlehen für MV für das Etatjahr für Benin Auktion (4.10.1899) -- Luschan Anfrage an Dr. Hans Meyer (z.Z. Kaiserhof, Berlin) wg. ev. Wünsche oder Aufträge für Auktion an Ihn (4.10.1899) -- Luschan an Stevens um sein Kommen anzukündigen (7.10.1899) + weiterer Brief Luschans (S. 132) -- Luschan an Baessler (S. 133) und AW Baessler (S. 134) -- GV Aktenvermerke und Notizen Bastian (S. 135) -- Beilage (S. 92): 2 Auktionskataloge 1899 J.C. Stephens (Curiosities), 1899, J.C. Stevens (1899)

Provenance and sources

where
Benin [kingdom]

when
16th century-17th century.
where
Nigeria [Land]
Benin [Königreich]
Udo [Stadt]
who
Weisbach, Valentin

who
J.C. Stevens - Former Possessors

Description
Possibly 16th - 17th cent, commissioned in the Udo Kingdom; probably acquired by the Obas of Benin by conquest or as tribute from the Udo Kingdom during or after the reign of Oba Esigie (ca. 1504 - 1550); probably looted in connection with the British conquest of Benin, 1897; in unknown possession after the conquest of the Kingdom of Benin; acquired by the Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin from J.C. Stevens (Stevens' Auction Rooms Ltd., London), 1899.

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Legal status metadata
CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED

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