{ "instructions": [ { "date": [ { "earliest": 1999, "value": "1999-11-01", "latest": 1999, "primary": true } ], "note": "EOWEN", "instruction": "amber", "type": "HANDLING STATUS" } ], "note": [ { "type": "catalogue note", "value": "Purchased in the 1960's by Nancy Stantfield. Given to Edu. Centre by Keith Nicklin 1996." } ], "loan": { "value": "Y" }, "subject": [ { "summary": { "title": "Africa" }, "@link": { "role": [ { "value": "place" } ], "attribution": { "attributor": "Learning Section" } }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-subject-25", "id": "subject-25", "uuid": "c8725caa-6d4d-36f1-a65c-df29f5f3cbb4" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "The first king of Benin" }, "@link": { "role": [ { "value": "learning subject" } ], "attribution": { "attributor": "Learning Section" } }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-subject-283", "id": "subject-283", "uuid": "3ca897d4-9c9a-37c1-87c7-dc7e602b834e" }, "@entity": "reference" } ], "description": [ { "type": "catalogue description", "value": "Small brass head of a chief.", "primary": true }, { "historical": true, "type": "description", "value": "Small brass head of a chief. Purchased in the 1960's by Nancy Stantfield. Given to Edu. Centre by Keith Nicklin 1996." }, { "type": "manufacture basic (online)", "value": "This object is made using the 'Lost Wax ' process which is sometimes also known as the 'Cire Perdu' process. \n\nThis is a method of casting using a mould to make an object. Although this is an ancient process, it is still practised today. A wax model is covered in clay which is then fired in a kiln. During firing, the wax melts, leaving a clay mould which is later filled with molten metal." }, { "type": "manufacture more (online)", "value": "To make the mould, the craftsman first makes the basic shape of the figure in soft clay. When this is dry, he uses softened wax on top of it to build up the details. He uses wooden tools to sculpt the finer details. The wax is left to harden before the whole figure is covered in a final layer of soft clay, but leaving a hole through which the melted wax can be removed. The clay is then tied with wire before being left to harden. When the mould has dried out, it is fired in a simple charcoal kiln to melt the wax inside. The melted wax is then poured out through the hole, leaving a completed mould ready for use. Molten brass is poured into the clay mould and left to cool down and solidify which can take as long as a week. Finally the clay mould is broken to reveal the metal figure. The casting is cleaned to remove all traces of clay and is then polished." }, { "type": "description", "value": "Small brass head of a chief. Purchased in the 1960's by Nancy Stantfield. Given to Edu. Centre by Keith Nicklin 1996.\n\nPLACE: Benin City, Nigeria, West Africa\n\nRELATED OBJECTS: Centenary Gallery: \nBrass Altar Bells, Ezuzu Fans, Ivory Amulets, Hand Held Ivory clappers.\nMusic gallery; Ukhurhe (Rattle Staff),Clapper bell, Side Blown Horns.\nAfrican Worlds; Benin Plaques" }, { "date": [ { "earliest": 2024, "value": "2024-03-28", "latest": 2024, "primary": true } ], "attribution": { "date": [ { "earliest": 2024, "value": "2024-03-28", "latest": 2024, "primary": true } ], "attributor": "Patel, India" }, "type": "description", "value": "Small brass head of a chief." }, { "historical": true, "type": "use", "value": "Similar figures were placed on 'ancestral' alters in the Royal Palace in Ancient Benin." }, { "historical": true, "type": "use", "value": "How is it used? \nThe people of Ancient Benin were known as the Bini. They placed commemorative brass\/bronze heads and sculptures on ancestral altars within the Royal Palace as a way to honour the ancestors. Such altars allowed people to communicate with the ancestral spirits, to show them respect, ask for their protection and their intervention to resolve problems. \n \nThis appears to be the head of a chief. We know this because he is wearing rows of coral beads around his neck. The Oba owned all the \ncoral in Benin and gave coral beads as rewards to people at his court. \n \nThese figures were not made to look exactly like the person they represented. They were sometimes used to represent the role and function of the person. This head is a modern copy made, using the traditional method, to sell to tourists. \n \n \nWho is it used by and why them? \nThe practice of honouring and communicating with ancestors was widespread in the Kingdom of Ancient Benin, which dates from the 11th century. Priests made altar offerings and conducted rituals during which bells would be rung to call the ancestral spirits. Carved elephant tusks, depicting a past King (or Oba), were also placed on the palace altars. \n \nThe people of Ancient Benin are well known for their brass\/bronze casting techniques and used these skills to make artefacts that recorded important people and events in their history. In Edo, the language of Ancient Benin, 'to remember' (sa-e-y-ama) literally means 'to cast a motif in bronze'. The Edo language was only spoken and not written so metal casting was an important way of recording their history." }, { "historical": true, "type": "use", "value": "Similar figures were placed on \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcancestral\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 alters in the Royal Palace in Ancient Benin. \n \n \nHow is it used? \n \nThe people of Ancient Benin were known as the Bini. \nThey placed Commemorative Brass\/Bronze heads and sculptures on ancestral altars within the Royal Palace as a way to \nhonour the ancestors. Such altars allowed people to communicate with the ancestral spirits, \nto show them their respects, ask for their protection \nand their intervention to resolve problems. This appears to be the head of a chief. We know \nthis because he is wearing rows of coral beads around his neck. The Oba owned all the \ncoral in Benin and gave coral beads as rewards to people at his court. These figures were \nnot made to look exactly like the person they represented. They were sometimes used to \nrepresent the role and function of the person. \nThis head is a modern copy made, using the traditional method, to sell to tourists. \n \n \nWho is it used by and why them? \n \nThe practice of honouring and communicating with ancestors was widespread in the kingdom of Ancient Benin, which dates from the 11th century. Priests made altar offerings and conducted rituals during which bells would be rung to call the ancestral spirits. Carved elephant tusks, depicting a past King (or Oba), were also placed on the palace altars. The people of Ancient Benin are well known for their Brass\/Bronze casting techniques and used these skills to make artefacts that recorded important people and events in their history. In Edo, the language of Ancient Benin, the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcto remember\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 (sa-e-y-ama) literally means \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcto cast a motif in Bronze\u00e2\u20ac\u2122. The Edo language was only spoken and not written so metal casting was an important way of recording their history. This head is a modern copy made, using the traditional method, to sell to tourists." }, { "attribution": { "attributor": "Patel, India" }, "historical": true, "type": "description", "value": "Small brass head of a chief. Purchased in the 1960's by Nancy Stantfield. Given to Edu. Centre by Keith Nicklin 1996." } ], "language": [ "eng" ], "type": { "sub_type": [ "general" ], "scope": "WHOLE", "base": "object" }, "legal": { "status": "handling collection" }, "options": { "option7": "Anthropology", "option5": "Belief", "use": "Similar commemorative brass\/bronze heads and sculptures were placed on 'ancestral' altars in the Royal Palace in Ancient Benin as a way to honour and communicate with their ancestors. This head can be identified as a chief by the row of coral beads he is wearing around his neck, as the Oba owned all of the coral in Benin and gave coral beads as rewards to people at his court. These sculptures were not meant to be literal representations, and would often represent the role and function of the person.\nThis head is a modern copy made with the traditional method to sell to tourists.", "flag4": "N", "option6": "Plankensteiner, B. 'Benin Kings and Rituals' Horniman Library African Arts Journal. Winter 2007 Vol 40 No 4.; \nGirshick, P. & Amos, B. 'The Art of Benin' The British Museum Press.; \nDuchateau, A. (1994) 'Benin - Royal Art of Africa' Prestel, Munich.; \nhttp:\/\/www.prm.ox.ac.uk\/benin.html; \nhttp:\/\/www.edo-nation.net\/toc.htm; \nhttp:\/\/www.britishmuseum.org", "flag3": "N", "system_count": "0", "flag2": "N", "flag1": "N", "option1": "In Ancient Benin, there was no written language and brass\/bronze casting was used to make a permanent record of important events and people as a way to record their history. We have learnt a lot about what life was like in Benin by studying their sculptures. \n\nHow do we record history today? Have written records lasted as long? Will newer methods such as video tape or electronic CDs be as long lasting?", "option2": "Made using the \u2018Lost Wax \u2018 process, sometimes also known as the \u2018Cire Perdu\u2019 process.\nThis is a method of casting using a mould to make an object. Although this is an ancient process it is still practised today. A wax model is covered in clay which is then fired in a kiln. During firing the wax melts leaving a clay mould which is later filled with molten metal.\n\nTo make the mould, the craftsman first makes the basic shape of the figure in soft clay. When this is dry he uses softened wax on top of it to build up the details. He uses wooden tools to sculpt the finer details. The wax is left to harden before the whole figure is covered in a final layer of soft clay but leaving a hole through which the melted wax can be removed.\nThe clay is then tied with wire before being left to harden. When the mould has dried out it is fired in a simple charcoal kiln to melt the wax inside. The melted wax is then poured out through the hole leaving a completed mould ready for use. Molten brass is poured into the clay mould and left to cool down and solidify, which can take as long as a week. Finally the clay mould is broken to reveal the metal figure. The casting is cleaned to remove all traces of clay and then polished.", "option10": "Schools: Ancient Benin" }, "appraisal": [ { "source": "catalogue", "@entity": "lifecycle" } ], "term": [ { "summary": { "title": "Edo" }, "@link": { "role": [ { "value": "maker or user" } ] }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-term-500610", "id": "term-500610", "uuid": "a1d8619e-36ba-36d0-91fd-ebefda49983c" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "shell" }, "@link": { "role": [ { "value": "classified as" } ] }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-term-1016308", "id": "term-1016308", "uuid": "d70dcb44-62ad-3e14-b299-ecce51efdadb" }, "@entity": "reference" } ], "physical": [ { "note": "Owen, Elizabeth M. 1999-11-01", "component": "overall", "term": "complete", "descriptor": "completeness", "@reference": { "@entity": "literal" }, "type": "completeness" }, { "component": "overall", "term": "brass", "descriptor": "material", "@reference": { "summary": { "title": "brass" }, "@link": { "role": [ { "value": "material" } ] }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-term-1015534", "id": "term-1015534", "uuid": "4078f338-da72-3fa9-a92c-69f5edb35e7b" }, "@entity": "reference" }, "type": "material" } ], "creation": { "place": [ { "summary": { "title": "Republic of Benin" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-place-141", "id": "place-141", "uuid": "3564b041-3e27-3465-a503-e84ff2972dd2" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "Nigeria, West Africa; Africa" }, "@link": { "source": "catalogue" }, "name": [ { "value": "Nigeria, West Africa; Africa" } ], "@entity": "literal" }, { "summary": { "title": "Nigeria" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-place-258", "id": "place-258", "uuid": "c5d2f3bb-7c31-3d01-98dd-686ff947a86e" }, "@entity": "reference" } ], "@entity": "lifecycle" }, "measurements": { "display": "overall: 110 x 45 mm", "dimensions": [ { "type": "catalogue dimensions", "value": "overall: 110 x 45 mm", "primary": true }, { "units": "in", "dimension": "diameter", "value": "1 3\/4" }, { "units": "mm", "dimension": "diameter", "value": "45" }, { "units": "in", "dimension": "height", "value": "4 5\/16" }, { "units": "mm", "dimension": "height", "value": "110" } ] }, "summary": { "title": "model head" }, "identifier": [ { "accession_number": "HC.1999.1946", "type": "accession number", "value": "HC.1999.1946", "primary": true } ], "collection": "Anthropology", "condition": [ { "date": { "earliest": 2020, "value": "2020-01-03", "latest": 2020 }, "examiner": "Welch, Alison; Maycock, Lucy", "value": "1: good" } ], "multimedia": [ { "processed": { "preview": { "resizable": true, "format": "jpeg", "modified": 1222769240000, "location": "160\/416\/preview_WI_HC_1999_1946.jpg", "type": "image", "measurements": { "filesize": { "units": "bytes", "value": 1220 }, "dimensions": [ { "units": "pixels", "dimension": "height", "value": 76 }, { "units": "pixels", "dimension": "width", "value": 76 } ] } }, "feature": { "resizable": true, "format": "jpeg", "modified": 1222769240000, "location": "160\/416\/feature_WI_HC_1999_1946.jpg", "type": "image", "measurements": { "filesize": { "units": "bytes", "value": 15560 }, "dimensions": [ { "units": "pixels", "dimension": "height", "value": 373 }, { "units": "pixels", "dimension": "width", "value": 373 } ] } }, "large": { "resizable": true, "format": "jpeg", "modified": 1222769240000, "location": "160\/416\/large_WI_HC_1999_1946.jpg", "type": "image", "measurements": { "filesize": { "units": "bytes", "value": 57924 }, "dimensions": [ { "units": "pixels", "dimension": "height", "value": 750 }, { "units": "pixels", "dimension": "width", "value": 750 } ] } }, "mid": { "resizable": true, "format": "jpeg", "modified": 1222769240000, "location": "160\/416\/mid_WI_HC_1999_1946.jpg", "type": "image", "measurements": { "filesize": { "units": "bytes", "value": 2163 }, "dimensions": [ { "units": "pixels", "dimension": "height", "value": 115 }, { "units": "pixels", "dimension": "width", "value": 115 } ] } }, "body": { "resizable": true, "format": "jpeg", "modified": 1222769240000, "location": "160\/416\/body_WI_HC_1999_1946.jpg", "type": "image", "measurements": { "filesize": { "units": "bytes", "value": 2002 }, "dimensions": [ { "units": "pixels", "dimension": "height", "value": 110 }, { "units": "pixels", "dimension": "width", "value": 110 } ] } } }, "@link": { "role": [ { "value": "image of object" } ], "attribution": { "type": "image (online)" } }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-media-160416", "id": "media-160416", "uuid": "31c6c64a-3d39-3163-bccc-6ecae6abde3a" }, "legal": { "rights": [ { "holder": "Horniman Museum and Gardens", "type": "copyright" } ] }, "type": "image", "@entity": "reference" } ], "@admin": { "processed": 1744912892233, "sequence": 7665069, "uid": "hmc-object-7992", "added": 1664637529767, "stream": "collections-online", "id": "object-7992", "source": "hmc", "uuid": "30fa3ac9-8af1-3f06-9898-857b50ade053" }, "movable": "Y", "material": [ { "type": "catalogue materials", "value": "brass", "primary": true } ], "culture": [ { "@link": { "source": "catalogue" }, "name": [ { "type": "catalogue culture", "value": "Edo" } ], "@entity": "literal" }, { "summary": { "title": "Edo" }, "@link": { "role": [ { "value": "maker or user" } ], "variation": 0 }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-term-500610", "id": "term-500610", "uuid": "a1d8619e-36ba-36d0-91fd-ebefda49983c" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "value": "Edo, Ancient Benin." }, { "value": "Edo" } ], "name": [ { "type": "catalogue name", "value": "model head", "primary": true }, { "type": "object name" }, { "type": "object name" }, { "type": "object name", "value": "head" }, { "type": "object name", "value": "Brass Model Head" }, { "type": "object name", "value": "model head" } ], "location": [ { "type": "home location", "value": "HMG - Forest Hill; Horniman Museum; Hands on Base; Display; Case 27; Shelf b" } ], "category": [ { "type": "category1", "value": "Education Handling Collection: Anthropology" } ], "cumulation": { "date": [ { "source": "catalogue", "earliest": 1960, "value": "1960s", "latest": 1969 }, { "role": [ { "value": "date collected" } ], "earliest": 1960, "value": "1960s", "latest": 1960 } ] }, "facility": [ { "summary": { "title": "Shelf c" }, "@link": { "date": { "earliest": 2025, "value": "2025-02-17", "latest": 2025 }, "duration": "0.75", "level5": "Shelf c", "level4": "Case 27", "current": "Y", "last": { "level5": "Shelf b", "level4": "Case 27", "location": "HMG - Forest Hill", "level1": "Horniman Museum", "level3": "Display", "level2": "Hands on Base" }, "purpose": "Regular storage", "moved": { "by": "Maycock, Lucy" }, "location": "HMG - Forest Hill", "level1": "Horniman Museum", "level3": "Display", "level2": "Hands on Base" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-facility-10345", "id": "facility-10345", "uuid": "c23138b5-2971-3a9e-8688-d9f9b836deb2" }, "@entity": "reference", "primary": true }, { "summary": { "title": "Aquarium" }, "@link": { "date": { "earliest": 2006, "value": "2006-12-14", "latest": 2006 }, "duration": "1358", "current": "N", "role": [ { "value": "historical" } ], "last": { "level4": "000026a", "location": "Hands on Base Shelf 26a", "level1": "FH", "level3": "0000M4", "level2": "3\/70" }, "purpose": "Exhibition", "location": "Horniman Museum. Aquarium" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-facility-485", "id": "facility-485", "uuid": "b52c62f1-3c0e-3352-b858-ac8fe6e1685f" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "Engage trolley" }, "@link": { "date": { "earliest": 2010, "value": "2010-09-01", "latest": 2010 }, "duration": "360", "current": "N", "role": [ { "value": "historical" } ], "last": { "location": "Horniman Museum. Aquarium" }, "purpose": "Exhibition", "moved": { "by": "Palmer, Louise" }, "location": "Horniman Museum. Engage trolley" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-facility-500", "id": "facility-500", "uuid": "c2fe0dcc-59b2-3633-a3eb-235fd3f7b821" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "Right Hand Archive" }, "@link": { "date": { "earliest": 2011, "value": "2011-08-26", "latest": 2011 }, "duration": "13", "current": "N", "role": [ { "value": "historical" } ], "last": { "location": "Horniman Museum. Engage trolley" }, "purpose": "temporary storage", "moved": { "by": "Palmer, Louise" }, "location": "Horniman Museum. Hands on Base", "level1": "Right Hand Archive" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-facility-10842", "id": "facility-10842", "uuid": "e86c9854-889c-38f5-89c7-5d46b164ad05" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "Layout Table 2" }, "@link": { "date": { "earliest": 2011, "value": "2011-09-07", "latest": 2011 }, "duration": "22", "current": "N", "role": [ { "value": "historical" } ], "last": { "location": "Horniman Museum. Hands on Base", "level1": "Right Hand Archive" }, "purpose": "temporary storage; loan", "moved": { "by": "Curtis, Bill" }, "location": "HMG - North Greenwich", "level1": "Study Collections Centre", "level3": "table", "level2": "1\/4" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-facility-560", "id": "facility-560", "uuid": "9f045368-df1d-3b7a-aa38-43751f9b06bd" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "1\/4" }, "@link": { "date": { "earliest": 2012, "value": "2012-01-09", "latest": 2012 }, "duration": "18", "current": "N", "role": [ { "value": "historical" } ], "last": { "location": "Hackney Museum", "level1": "LOAN L2011.7" }, "purpose": "pest control after loan", "moved": { "by": "Curtis, Bill" }, "location": "HMG - North Greenwich", "level1": "Study Collections Centre", "level2": "1\/4" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-facility-1191", "id": "facility-1191", "uuid": "3826d75b-0442-3b9c-90a4-615cf2344bef" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "Shelf a" }, "@link": { "date": { "earliest": 2012, "value": "2012-01-26", "latest": 2012 }, "duration": "1441", "current": "N", "role": [ { "value": "historical" } ], "last": { "location": "Horniman Museum. Study Collections Centre", "level1": "SCC", "level2": "1\/4" }, "purpose": "Exhibition", "location": "Horniman Museum. Hands on Base", "level1": "Display", "level3": "Shelf a", "level2": "Case 17" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-facility-10258", "id": "facility-10258", "uuid": "712d009b-8771-30de-90a0-6fde8f717038" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "Shelf A" }, "@link": { "date": { "earliest": 2016, "value": "2016-01-05", "latest": 2016 }, "duration": "365", "level5": "Shelf a", "level4": "Case 26", "current": "N", "role": [ { "value": "historical" } ], "last": { "location": "Horniman Museum. Hands on Base", "level1": "Display", "level3": "Shelf a", "level2": "Case 17" }, "purpose": "annual audit", "location": "HMG - Forest Hill", "level1": "Horniman Museum", "level3": "Display", "level2": "Hands on Base" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-facility-10124", "id": "facility-10124", "uuid": "dd9b9cc4-efbc-31f9-bdfa-6f90b3ecb1d6" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "Shelf a" }, "@link": { "date": { "earliest": 2017, "value": "2017-01-03", "latest": 2017 }, "duration": "366", "level5": "Shelf a", "level4": "Case 26", "current": "N", "role": [ { "value": "historical" } ], "last": { "level5": "Shelf a", "level4": "Case 26", "location": "HMG - Forest Hill", "level1": "Horniman Museum", "level3": "Display", "level2": "Hands on Base" }, "purpose": "annual audit", "location": "HMG - Forest Hill", "level1": "Horniman Museum", "level3": "Display", "level2": "Hands on Base" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-facility-10335", "id": "facility-10335", "uuid": "397283e2-42a6-306c-b00e-e6d0d570e447" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "Shelf b" }, "@link": { "date": { "earliest": 2019, "value": "2019-01-02", "latest": 2019 }, "duration": "367", "level5": "Shelf b", "level4": "Case 27", "current": "N", "role": [ { "value": "historical" } ], "last": { "level5": "Shelf b", "level4": "Case 27", "location": "HMG - Forest Hill", "level1": "Horniman Museum", "level3": "Display", "level2": "Hands on Base" }, "purpose": "annual audit", "location": "HMG - Forest Hill", "level1": "Horniman Museum", "level3": "Display", "level2": "Hands on Base" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-facility-10344", "id": "facility-10344", "uuid": "087b1449-dec1-3e4a-af51-90cde567280b" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "CUE Building" }, "@link": { "date": { "earliest": 2021, "value": "2021-07-15", "latest": 2021 }, "duration": "8", "current": "N", "role": [ { "value": "historical" } ], "last": { "level5": "Shelf b", "level4": "Case 27", "location": "HMG - Forest Hill", "level1": "Horniman Museum", "level3": "Display", "level2": "Hands on Base" }, "purpose": "School session", "moved": { "by": "Kanska, Maggie" }, "location": "HMG - Forest Hill", "level1": "CUE Building" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-facility-502", "id": "facility-502", "uuid": "f24b9207-1b7f-35c4-8c01-49ae974257a5" }, "@entity": "reference" } ], "object": [ { "summary": { "title": "metal cast" }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-object-10055", "id": "object-10055", "uuid": "822efe1b-079d-34c1-95c8-1c6082f8102d" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "plaque; casting; stage of manufacture" }, "@link": { "attribution": { "attributor": "Learning Section" } }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-object-9247", "id": "object-9247", "uuid": "6b03463a-e813-311c-a20e-ec165a71245b" }, "@entity": "reference" }, { "summary": { "title": "plaque" }, "@link": { "attribution": { "attributor": "Learning Section" } }, "@admin": { "uid": "hmc-object-9237", "id": "object-9237", "uuid": "09444269-9413-3d29-ade0-ab0c826511eb" }, "@entity": "reference" } ] }