Ancestral commemorative head: A 500-year-old brass bust depicting an African king
A striking depiction of an African king wearing coral necklaces and braids is one of the thousands of Benin Bronzes that the British looted from Nigeria in 1897.
The Ancestral Commemorative Head, a 500-year-old brass bust, depicts an oba, or ruler, of the Kingdom of Benin. Crafted from a copper alloy using a lost-wax casting process, the 30-centimeter-tall sculpture initially misled CMA experts into believing it represented a princess due to the coral necklaces and braids. However, these elements symbolize a ruler's power.
The bust once supported an intricately carved elephant tusk, recording the oba's accomplishments and life events. This head, known as "uhunmwun-elao" in the Edo language, is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, acquired from French art dealer Louis Carré in the 1930s. The Kingdom of Benin, one of the oldest monarchies in West Africa, commissioned brass or bronze busts of their predecessors upon taking the throne.
However, the British looted thousands of African artifacts from the Kingdom during their annexation in 1897, leading Nigeria to request their return. The bust is one of numerous Benin Bronzes in museums worldwide, with the British Museum holding the largest collection. Despite calls for their return, the British Museum has not repatriated any.
Written by urgent.news from Live Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
