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Provenance

Reportedly Benin City, Nigeria, before 1897.[1] (J.J. Klejman Gallery, New York); purchased around 30 November 1955 by Winston Guest, New York; gift 1955 to NGA.

[1] The object was brought to Europe by a member of the British punitive expedition to the Kingdom of Benin in 1897, according to a letter of 30 November 1955 from J.J. Klejman, New York, to Winston Guest, New York (in NGA curatorial files).

Exhibition History
1955
Exhibition of African Art, Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Ohio, 1956, In Allen Memorial Art Museum Bulletin 13 (Winter 1955-1956), no. 30.
1970
The Language of African Art. A Guest Exhibition of the Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution Fine Arts and Portrait Gallery Building, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1970, no. 287.
1972
African Art in Washington Collections, Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C., 1972-1973, no. 191.
1991
Loan for display with permanent collection, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1991-1992.
2002
Loan for display with permanent collection, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 2002-2004.
2004
Treasures, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 2004-2005, no cat.
2005
Loan for display with permanent collection, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 2005-2006.
Bibliography
1955
Exhibition of African art. Exh. cat. Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Ohio, 1956. In Allen Memorial Art Museum Bulletin 13 (Winter 1955-1956): no. 30.
1965
Summary Catalogue of European Paintings and Sculpture. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1965: 146, as Benin Style, Bronze Cock.
1966
Robbins, Warren M. African Art in American Collections. New York, 1966: 147, pl. 177.
1968
National Gallery of Art. European Paintings and Sculpture, Illustrations. Washington, 1968: 130, repro.
1968
National Gallery of Art. European Paintings and Sculpture, Illustrations. Washington, 1968: 130, repro., as Benin Style, Bronze Cock.
1972
Keisch, Bernard. Secrets of the Past; Nuclear Energy Applications in Art and Archaeology. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Office of Information Services. Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 1972: 46, repro.
1994
Sculpture: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994: 157, repro.
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