Object Details
- Yoruba artist
- Label Text
- This ornament shows stylistic affinities with other Yoruba art and with art from the Benin kingdom. Two hunting horns and two pecking birds flank a head that has a knotted conical coiffure. The raised striations on the forehead are similar to marks on Benin copper alloy objects. The large almond-shaped eyes, nostrils and mouth show Yoruba stylistic traits.
- In 1958, noted Africanist scholar William Fagg photographed this object and seven similar ornaments in a chief's collection in Benin City Nigeria. The group was described as the girdle of the legendary giant Enowe, who lived northwest of the Benin Kingdom.
- Description
- Hip ornament with human face at the center flanked by two snake winged birds on either side of the face.
- Provenance
- D. Winkel collection, Delft, Netherlands, before 1980
- Emile M. Deletaille, Brussels, 1980 to 1986
- Exhibition History
- The Art of Metal in Africa. New York: The African American Institute October 7, 1982 - January 5, 1983
- Rice Univeristy, Sewall Gallery, Houston, February 3 - April 10, 1983
- Charles W. Bowers Museum, Santa Ana June 18 - April 10, 1983
- Published References
- Brincard, Marie-Therese (ed.) 1982. The Art of Metal in Africa. New York: The African American Institute, H29
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Credit Line
- Museum purchase
- 15th-19th century
- Object number
- 86-12-6
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Jewelry
- Medium
- Copper alloy
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 6.9 x 22.9 x 6.4 cm (2 11/16 x 9 x 2 1/2 in.)
- Geography
- Nigeria
- See more items in
- National Museum of African Art Collection
- National Museum of African Art
- Topic
- bird
- Adornment
- male
- Record ID
- nmafa_86-12-6
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys70578d81b-270b-4b8e-9bdf-321c0e8551af
