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Edo. <em>Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants</em>, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_front_PS2.jpg)
Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_front_PS2.jpg)
Edo. <em>Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants</em>, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_front_PS2.jpg)

Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_front_PS2.jpg)

Edo. <em>Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants</em>, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.1998.38_front.jpg)

Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.1998.38_front.jpg)

Edo. <em>Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants</em>, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_back_PS2.jpg)

Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_back_PS2.jpg)

Edo. <em>Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants</em>, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.1998.38_back.jpg)

Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.1998.38_back.jpg)

Edo. <em>Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants</em>, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_transp728.jpg)

Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_transp728.jpg)

Edo. <em>Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants</em>, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_back_SL1_edited.jpg)

Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_back_SL1_edited.jpg)

Edo. <em>Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants</em>, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.1998.38_detail02.jpg)

Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.1998.38_detail02.jpg)

Edo. <em>Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants</em>, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.1998.38_detail01.jpg)

Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.1998.38_detail01.jpg)

Edo. <em>Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants</em>, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.1998.38_inscription.jpg)

Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.1998.38_inscription.jpg)

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Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants

Arts of Africa

The central figure on this pendant represents the oba, or king, of Benin flanked by important court officials. The scene symbolizes support for the oba, who in turn sustains the nation. The pendant was worn by the oba on a belt around his waist at state events.
CULTURE Edo
MEDIUM Copper alloy
  • Place Made: Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
    • DATES mid–16th to early 17th century
    DIMENSIONS 8 x 6 1/4 x 2 1/4 in (20.3 x 15.9 x 5.7 cm)  (show scale)
    INSCRIPTIONS "25601" painted in white on back
    COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
    ACCESSION NUMBER 1998.38
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Beatrice Riese
    PROVENANCE Until at least 1897, Benin Kingdom; 1897, probably taken from the Royal Palace during the British military raid and occupation of Benin City by an unidentified British agent, possibly by Admiral Sir George Le Clerc Egerton of London, United Kingdom; before 1940, acquired by Admiral Sir George Le Clerc Egerton; between 1940 and 1954, provenance not yet documented; by 1954, acquired by Margaret F. Plass of London; between 1954 and 1960, provenance not yet documented; by 1960, acquired by Julius Carlebach of New York, NY; 1960, acquired from Julius Carlebach by Beatrice Riese of New York, NY; 1998, gift of Beatrice Riese to the Brooklyn Museum.
    Provenance FAQ
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Semicircular cast ornament depicting three figures in high relief, possibly lost-wax cast. The figures 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. Back of plaque has the a cast-in image of a knife, possibly a maker's mark.
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Edo. Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_front_PS2.jpg)
    IMAGE front, 1998.38_front_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
    You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
    RECORD COMPLETENESS
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    Edo. <em>Waist Pendant with Oba and Two Attendants</em>, mid–16th to 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. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.38_front_PS2.jpg)

    TAGS

    Oba
    trio
    pendant
    waist
    copper
    alloy
    Nigeria
    Ohen
    Benin bronze
    Lost-wax
    men
    soldier
    belt buckle
    Semicircles
    Sword
    Eden
    Motif

    TAGS

    Oba
    trio
    pendant
    waist
    copper
    alloy
    Nigeria
    Ohen
    Benin bronze
    Lost-wax
    men
    soldier
    belt buckle
    Semicircles
    Sword
    Eden
    Motif

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