Uhunmwun-Ekhue (Leopard Hip Ornament)

Working at the request of the oba (ruler), the Benin Kingdom’s prestigious royal brass-casting guild has for centuries produced ceremonial works for the royal palace at Benin City. Made from metals acquired in a lucrative trade with Europeans, their creations served as records of the kingdom’s wealth and traditions. This ornament depicts a leopard, the oba’s sacred animal. Military officers or court officials wore it to symbolize their social status and authority to take human life. Worn at the waist along with other pendant-masks depicting ancestral spirits, this object was distinguished by its small bells, which jangled as the owner walked.

In February of 1897, the British army invaded Benin City, exiled the oba, and looted the kingdom’s treasures. The AMAM acknowledges the looted status of this work, and is committed to open dialogue about its proper display and care.