cast;
sculpture
- Museum number
- CRS.9
- Description
-
Cast; human head made of plaster. Head is about life size and has a large circular hole in the top. Face is smooth and quite plump, well modelled. Nose is straight, lips are parted with central hole. Neck has seven horizontal grooves at front and is pierced with irregularly placed holes at front, back and sides. Single line of holes runs around the hairline. Double line of holes run from ear to ear above and below the chin and a further two rows of holes run across the upper lip. Three cuts on the forehead. Crack runs from right proper ear to jaw. Head is painted green to correspond to the patination of the metal on the original.
- Production date
-
1947-1948 (cast)
-
14thC-15thC(early) (original)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 35.50 centimetres
-
Width: 17.50 centimetres
-
Depth: 25.50 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
-
In 1938 five cast copper and twelve cast brass human heads and one half figure were discovered during building works in Wunmonije compound close to the Ooni's palace at Ife, Nigeria. Two of the heads are less than life size and are portrayed with crowns; the other fifteen heads are life size and are pierced with holes around the neck.
This cast was made in 1947-8 from the original head (see Willett, 2004: M9) which is made of heavily leaded zinc-brass. The original head was part of the first group of discoveries in Wunmonije compound.
-
The original of this cast was displayed at the British Museum with 11 other Ife heads, a mask (from July onwards) and a half figure from 24 June 1948 - September 1948.
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Several Ife heads had samples removed for analysis while they were at the British Museum in 1947-8. The sample taken from the original head was number 11. It was made of heavily leaded zinc-brass.
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The original head is now in the collections of the National Museum Lagos, Nigeria. Originally numbered Ife 11.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Good.
- Acquisition notes
- In 1946 the Keeper of Ethnography, Mr H J Braunholtz, visited Ife, Nigeria while conducting a survey of museum needs in West Africa for the Colonial Colonial Office. Braunholtz suggested to the Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, that finds discovered at Wunmonije Compound, Ife, in 1938-9 might be sent to the BM for conservation treatment (cleaning) and exhibition. In 1947 one half figure and 14 heads arrived at the British Museum.
Plaster casts were made of 11 of these heads (including this one) as well as the half figure. However, due to time constraints it proved impossible to complete the colouring of 5 of the heads.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- CRS.9