A 500-year-old copper-alloy bust depicting an oba, or ruler, of the Kingdom of Benin is drawing renewed attention to the contentious issue of artifact repatriation. The sculpture, which measures approximately 30 centimeters in height, was crafted in Edo, Nigeria, during the mid-1500s using the lost-wax casting technique.
Currently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), the piece was acquired from French art dealer Louis Carré, who was known for selling looted Benin artifacts to Western institutions during the 1930s. For decades, CMA curators misidentified the subject as a princess, attributing this error to the coral necklaces and temple braids adorning the figure. However, experts later recognized these elements as symbols of royal authority. The open top of the bust was designed to hold an intricately carved elephant tusk, which historically recorded the ruler’s achievements and significant life events.
The artwork was produced by the Igun Eronmwon, a hereditary guild of artisans responsible for creating royal objects for the Benin court. The kingdom valued brass for its resistance to corrosion, despite the fact that much of the material was imported from regions as distant as Germany.
The bust is part of the broader collection known as the Benin Bronzes, which encompasses thousands of metal plaques, sculptures, and ornaments looted by British forces when they invaded the Benin royal palace in 1897. Although the term “Bronzes” is widely used, most of these objects are technically made of brass, an alloy of copper and zinc.
In recent years, several institutions have begun returning these artifacts to Nigeria. In 2022, a coalition of German museums transferred ownership of more than 1,100 pieces, while the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art handed over 29 works that same year. The Netherlands returned 119 artifacts in 2025. Additionally, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, returned two pieces to Oba Ewuare II, the current ruler and custodian of Benin culture, in 2025.
Despite these efforts, the British Museum has not yet officially returned any of the over 900 Benin artifacts in its possession, following a formal request from Nigeria in 2021. The Digital Benin project maintains a comprehensive catalog of the royal artifacts stolen during the late 19th century.
Does the open top with the tusk still hold the original carving, or was that lost long ago? I’d love to see a close-up photo of the current state.
I didn’t know they mistook this for a princess for decades. Those royal symbols are so distinct now that I can see why experts were confused back then.
It is about time more museums follow Germany and the Netherlands. The British Museum really needs to step up here.