Elephant Tusk

AF5067

From: Nigeria | Benin Kingdom

Curatorial Section: African

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Object Number AF5067
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Edo (Africa)
Provenience Nigeria | Benin Kingdom
Date Made 19th century CE
Section African
Materials Elephant Ivory | Ivory
Technique Carved
Description

Tusks fully carved with figures and guilloche pattern at base. Two motifs are particularly common: the fish-legged Ọba identified with Olokun, god of the sea and wealth, and the triad of the Ọba with two supporting chiefs, which shows interdependence.

Length 148 cm
Width 40 cm
Depth 15.5 cm
Credit Line Purchased from W. O. Oldman, 1921

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