Waist pendant or hip ornament: human face ·  Nigeria, Kingdom of Benin, Edo · ID: 3037689

Description

bronze alloy, large eyes with iron inlay, coral-bead headband “udaeha”, above the face is a latticework coral-bead cap with clusters of (coral) beads at the edges, three raised keloid scarification marks “ikharo” above each eye, decorative flange around the lower part of the face, representing coiled mudfish, large loop at the top backside, handwritten collection number in white paint backside “554”, slightly dam., minor missing parts (mudfish, flange right hand side, lower lip);
chiefs and titleholders in Benin wear a variety of brass ornaments as part of their elaborate costumes for palace ceremonies. Most are worn singly at the left hip, covering the closure of their wrapped skirts. The bead regalia depicted on the hip ornaments suggest that they represent the chiefs and titleholders who wear them, as a way of reflecting and reinforcing their status.

Comparing literature

Plankensteiner, Barbara (Hg.), Benin, Könige und Rituale, Wien 2007, p. 358 ff. Ezra, Kate, Royal Art of Benin, New York 1992, p. 154 f. von Luschan, Felix, Alterthümer von Benin, Textband, Berlin 1919, p. 375