Figure

Description

Standing figure of carved elephant ivory with traces of red stain, representing a female attendant of the Iyoba (Queen Mother)wearing coral beads and carrying a double gong or manilla, on a plinth decorated with guilloche designs: West Africa, Nigeria, Edo State, Benin, 18th century

Museum reference

A.1985.633

Collection

World Culture

Object name

Figure

Production information

Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, Western Africa

Date

18th century

Style / Culture

Benin

Materials

Elephant ivory

Physical description

Carved elephant ivory, traces of red stain

Associations

British Punitive Expedition to Benin City, 1897

Exhibitions

• Artistic Legacies (08 Feb 2019)
  National Museum of Scotland

• Artistic Legacies (29 Jul 2011 - 2018)
  National Museum of Scotland

• Benin - Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria (08 May 2007 - 21 Sep 2008)
  Museum Für Völkerkunde
  Musée du Quai Branly
  Ethnologisches Museum
  The Art Institute of Chicago

References

Idiens, Dale., New Benin Discoveries in Scotland, African Arts 14 (4), August 1986, 52

Links to other web pages

Digital Benin

On display

national museum of scotland »
level 5 »
world cultures, artistic legacies