pendant mask
- Museum number
- Af1947,18.40
- Description
-
Pendant mask; hip ornament; lost-wax cast in brass. In form of human face with openwork beaded headdress and beaded udaeha band across forehead. Three scarification marks above each eye; pupils inlaid with iron nails; metal panel along nose decorated with cross-hatching. Projecting decorative flange around lower face decorated with stylised mudfish riveted to base with iron nails; small suspension loops below. Single suspension loop at bottom of mask and two side loops.
- Production date
- 16thC(late)-19thC(mid) (?)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 19.30 centimetres
-
Weight: 543 grammes
-
Width: 13.40 centimetres
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Depth: 5.70 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Such hip ornaments are commissioned and worn by senior members of the men's associations based in the Oba's palace in Benin City. They are worn tied over a sash on the left hip.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Fair; missing mudfish pendant on collar; lower half of central mudfish pendant broken off. Upper suspension loop missing. White granular surface deposits inside and outside mask.
- Acquisition date
- 1947
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1947,18.40
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: Y0/71 (Dark: Benin catalogue number)