Provenance

Probably commissioned by the Oba of Benin, or a member of the court of Benin, 18th–19th century [see note 1]; by descent to Oba Ovonramwen (Ovonramwen Nogbaisi) (ca. 1857– ca.1914), Royal Palace, Benin City; looted during the Raid on Benin, February 1897, and removed from Benin City by Commander F.W. Hammond R.N. [see note 2]. Sale, Sotheby’s, New York, May 15, 1981, lot 119. Mr. Thomas Leland (1924–2000) and Mrs. Erika Hughes, New York; bequeathed to the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Conn., 2014

Note 1: The Oba of Benin was the chief patron of the Igun Eronmwon (Royal Brasscasters Guild). With special permission, the royal artists made pieces for other clients.

Note 2: An inscription on a sticker on the inside of Altar Bell reads, “Found by Cmdr. F.W. Hammond R.N. during the punitive expedition of 1887 under the command of Admiral Sir Henry Rawlinson K.B.G.R.N.” The “punitive expedition,” or Raid on Benin, was a British military led expedition against the west African Kingdom of Benin in retaliation over a trade dispute in January 1897. Despite fierce resistance, British troops captured, burned and looted Benin city, including much of the country’s art, which was taken to Britain.
Although the ceremonial office of the Oba remains, Oba Ovonramwen was exiled, and the Benin kingdom ended following the British attack.

The discrepancy in dating, 1887 as opposed to 1897, on the sticker is almost certainly an error and the identity of Commander Hammond remains unknown. Research into the ownership history for Altar Bell is ongoing.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Gallery recognizes the looted status of objects from the Benin Kingdom in our collection and is part of ongoing conversations regarding these artworks. The ethics of collecting works of art removed from their countries of origin during periods of European colonialism or conflict is a subject of debate among collecting institutions, international governments, and the public. The Gallery is sensitive to the complex history of these objects and seeks to educate the wider Yale University, local, national, and international communities through their continued display.