Benin City, Edo State / Kingdom of Benin, Nigeria, Africa
Accession Date:
19 Jan 1966
Notes:
Provenience undocumented (Benin City, Nigeria). 18th century date based on chronology for Benin bronzes established by William Fagg and Philip Dark. In the collection of Baron Eduard von der Heydt (also known as Edward von der Heydt and Ratio, S.A..). Head seized by the Office of Alien Property, Department of Justice, during World War II (the owner was a German national and classified as an enemy alien.) The memorial head had been on deposit in the Buffalo Museum of Science until it was transferred to the custody of the Office of Alien Property in 1964 and transferred to the Smithsonian Institution in 1966. Exhibited in NMNH “African Voices” from 1999 - present.
From African Voices exhibit: "A carved ivory tusk depicting the glories of a king's reign would have been placed in the opening on the top of this brass memorial head."
