Hip pendant

Description

Hip pendant of elephant ivory, U-shaped, carved in relief depicting an Oba (King) flanked by two attendants who support him at the elbows in a characteristic pose, the royal triad wear official regalia of deep coral neckbands and patterned kilts, with mudfish below, which refer to the Oba's dual identity as Olokun the water god: West Africa, Nigeria, Edo State, Benin, 18th century

Museum reference

A.1985.308

Collection

World Culture

Object name

Hip pendant

Production information

Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, Western Africa

Date

18th century

Style / Culture

Benin

Materials

Elephant ivory

Associations

Olokun
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

Links to other web pages

Digital Benin

On display

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