Commemorative Head of an Oba, early 16th century — Art Institute of Chicago

Cast brass commemorative head of an Oba (king) of the Kingdom of Benin, early 16th century CE. The Art Institute of Chicago holds this work (accession 1961.131) in its African art collection. Early-period heads are characterised by thinner walls, more naturalistically proportioned features, and simpler collar arrangements compared to later examples. Among the holdings under provenance review at major US museums in the context of the 2022 Smithsonian restitution.