Hip Ornament with Human Face (Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ)
Edo
1 of 3
Object Label
Benin court officials have long worn a variety of brass ornaments as part of their elaborate regalia for ceremonial occasions. Such ornaments were worn on the left hip, covering the closure of a wrapped skirt. The three metal scarification marks on either side of the forehead identify the individual portrayed as a royal Edo man. Similar items of regalia are worn by Benin court officials today.
Caption
Edo. Hip Ornament with Human Face (Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ), 18th century (possibly). Copper alloy, iron, 6 13/16 × 4 5/16 × 2 1/4 in. (17.3 × 11 × 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Beatrice Riese, 1994.143. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Hip Ornament with Human Face (Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ)
Date
18th century (possibly)
Geography
Place made: Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Medium
Copper alloy, iron
Classification
Dimensions
6 13/16 × 4 5/16 × 2 1/4 in. (17.3 × 11 × 5.7 cm)
Inscriptions
faint evidence of a number in white along the PR side of the base, possibly "B60(?).8.513"
Credit Line
Gift of Beatrice Riese
Accession Number
1994.143
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