Collections: Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands: Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants

• Download
• Add to set
• Favorite
• Posse icon
• Share
• Print

Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants

The central figure on this pendant represents the fifteenth-century oba or king of Benin, Ohen, flanked by important court officials, the edaiken (crown prince) and the egonio (war chief). The scene symbolizes support for the oba, who in turn sustains the nation. The pendant was made for a later king who wore it on a belt around his waist at state events.

Cast into the back of the pendant is the image of a ceremonial sword known as an eben. This same image appears on as many as twenty other pendants and seems to be an artist's mark, a very unusual element in African art.

• Culture: Edo
• Medium: Copper alloy
• Place Made: Benin, Edo State, Nigeria
• Dates: mid 16th-early 17th century
• Dimensions: 8 x 6 1/4 x 2 1/4 in (20.3 x 15.9 x 5.7 cm)
• Collections: Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands
• Museum Location: This item is on view in African Galleries, 1st Floor
• Accession Number: 1998.38
• Credit Line: Gift of Beatrice Riese
• Image: Front, 1998.38_front_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid 16th-early 17th century. Copper alloy, 8 x 6 1/4 x 2 1/4 in (20.3 x 15.9 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Beatrice Riese, 1998.38 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_front_PS2.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: Semicircular lost-wax(?) cast ornament depicting 3 figures in high relief. They are dressed in skirted textured costumes with beaded high collars. Each wears a domed headdress with shoulder-length side flaps and a crown topped with dowel-like extension. Legs are adorned with multiple cast coral bead anklets. The edge of the ornament is finished with a row of small pierced circles. Overall condition is good. Back of plaque has the number 25601 painted in white and a cast-in image of a knife (maker's mark?). Small losses to metal structure, including fronts of feet of right figure and looped border element at top left corner. Extensions of crowns for right and left figures are broken off at top. Light surface dirt and some tiny white paint specks. To the left of the center figure's leg is a faint pale green corrosion drip.