About This Artwork
Altar Head for an Oba (Uhunmwun Elao)18th/early 19th century
Brass
H. 32.4 cm (12 3/4 in.)
Major Acquisitions Centennial Endowment, 2003.16
This commanding brass head served as the elaborate pedestal for a sculpted elephant tusk. It was commissioned by a newly enthroned oba to stand on an altar commemorating a previous oba, probably his father. The oba of Benin rules by divine right and is the channel through which his deified royal ancestors vitalize and protect the kingdom. In Benin, the head is a prominent symbol that refers to a person's ability to move successfully through life and to become a productive ancestor. This head's high, beaded collar and netlike cap depict an oba's coral regalia.