id:			286213
accession number:	2016.57
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/2016.57
updated:		2021-01-16 10:05:10.418000

Male figure, probably 1800s. Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Benue River Valley, Unidentified maker. Copper alloy; height: 44.7 cm (17 5/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 2016.57

title:				Male figure
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			probably 1800s
creation date earliest:		1800
creation date latest:		1968
current location:		108A Sub-Saharan
creditline:			John L. Severance Fund
copyright:			

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culture:	Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Benue River Valley, Unidentified maker
technique:	Copper alloy
department:	African Art
collection:	African Art
type:		Sculpture
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: height: 44.7 cm (17 5/8 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

	Acquired by Helene Kamer (now Leloup) in Nigeria (Biafra) in 1968 or 1969
	date: 1968 or 1993
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	sold to a private collector by Helene and Philippe Leloup, New York, NY
	date: 1993-2016
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	Private collector, New York
	date: ?-2016
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH 2016 by purchase
	date: 2016 to present
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact: 


digital description: 
Realized in a very distinctive style using the lost-wax method, this figure’s cultural origin and function is limited because it was removed from Nigeria during that country’s turbulent civil war of the late 1960s. Perhaps it was once part of an altar or shrine dedicated to a guardian or tutelary spirit. Connotations of prestige and wealth may explain why copper-alloy objects were diffused across vast territory and inherited over many generations.

wall description: 
Realized in a very distinctive style using the lost-wax method, this figure’s cultural origin and function is limited because it was removed from Nigeria during that country’s turbulent civil war of the late 1960s. Perhaps it was once part of an altar or shrine dedicated to a guardian or tutelary spirit. Connotations of prestige and wealth may explain why copper-alloy objects were diffused across vast territory and inherited over many generations.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

	
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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.57/2016.57_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.57/2016.57_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.57/2016.57_full.tif