What: Commemorative Head of a King, Uhunmwun-Elao from the Kingdom of Benin, Nigeria, 17th century. Brass.
Where to find it: IU Art Museum
Why you should care: This head was commissioned by a Benin king, or "oba," to honor his deceased predecessor. Along with other brass and ivory objects, the sculpture was placed on a shrine used as the focus of ceremonies and sacrifices intended to both honor the deceased and ensure that his spirit assisted the current oba and, by extension, the people of the kingdom. The head, however, does not depict the deceased king's physical likeness. Instead, the beaded royal regalia indicates that this is a king, and the three lines above each eye -- signs of authority for the Edo -- emphasize that he is someone who must be obeyed. The head also conveys Edo beliefs about kingship. The impassive expression, for example, relates to ideas about the importance of a ruler's stability and calmness, and the use of brass -- a permanent material that is difficult to damage -- reminds viewers of the continuity and permanence of the office. Cast using the lost-wax method, the head was created by a member of a guild of brassworkers who lived within the walls of Benin City, the kingdom's capital. While the kingdom flourished (from the 15th to the 19th centuries), copper-based metals were reserved for use by royalty and those designated by the oba.
