1917.2.13

Collection type

Object

Description

Brass mask hip ornament in the form of a human face.

Geographical reference

Nigeria

Africa > Western Africa > Nigeria

Cultural groups

Edo

Person

Field collector George Chardin Denton

PRM source George Chardin Denton

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1917

Date collected

By 1917 probably 1897

Acquisition information

Donated: 1917

Materials and processes

Material Brass Metal, Process Lost Wax Cast

Dimensions

Height: max 124 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1917.2.13

Research and responses

Sir George Chardin Denton (1851-1928) was Colonial Secretary of the Colony of Lagos from 1889 to 1900, then Administrator (renamed in 1901 Governor) of the Gambia until 1911. [Dan Hicks 9/12/2019]

There are other entries from a Captain and Mrs Denton and a Mrs Denton which might also be from George Chardin Denton [and his wife, actually called Jean Margaret Alan Denton, died 1900] but as Denton is not an uncommon name I have not added this possibility to the PRM source field for these entries, calling up Denton calls up the 70 relevant total entries [AP 19/11/2001]

Masks like this were symbols of leadership in Benin. They were worn by the Oba and the Edo chiefs and also sent to the Oba's vassal leaders as emblems of their authority. While the Edo chiefs wore these masks attached to their belts, often on the left hip, vassal leaders wore them around their necks. [LMM ?]

Associated publications

This is possibly B8/73 on p. 2.1.32 of An Illustrated Catalogue of Benin Art, by Philip J. C. Dark (Boston, MA: G. K. Hall, 1982), though the book number Dark gives actually relates to his B8/72 (1900.39.6). [JC 1995]

Search terms: Mask, Ornament, Insignia, Religion, Status, Status Object