Asen altar of the Fon people, Abomey, Benin

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.

View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Object Details

Photographer

Elisofon, Eliot

Collection Photographer

Elisofon, Eliot

Collection Citation

Eliot Elisofon Field Collection, EEPA 1973-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution

Scope and Contents

"A typical Asen consists of a pointed iron or steel stake topped with a hollowed metal cone or series of ribs that supports a circular platform. On the platform is a tableau commemorating the person for whose spirit the Asen is intended. Asen represent our desire to venerate our fathers, our mothers, our influential elders, our ancestors." [Poling Cl., 1986: Asen: Iron Altars of the Fon People of Benin; Emory University Museum of Art and Archeology; African Arts, May 1986]. During his trip to Dahomey (now Benin), Elisofon visited the town of Abomey, in the Fon people region. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.

sova.eepa.1973-001_ref30407

GUID

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo772208969-5bdb-408b-b196-3522cf6b6324

Local Numbers

EENG-VIII-39, 24.

General

Title source: Index card based on photographer's notes.

Local Note

Typed index card reads, "I 2 Fon. Fon. Dahomey, Abomey. Asen altar staffs on platform stained with sacrifices. Located near Palace and applique cloth makers. Feb.-Mar. 1971. EE. neg.no. VIII-39, 24." The card was written in 1977-79 by Archives staff using source provided by photographer.

Place

Africa

Benin

Topic

Rites and ceremonies -- Africa

Cultural landscapes

Works of art in situ

Photographer

Elisofon, Eliot

Culture

Fon (African people)

See more items in

Eliot Elisofon Field collection

Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Benin

Extent

1 Negatives (photographic) (b&w, 35mm.)

Date

1971

Archival Repository

Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

Identifier

EEPA.1973-001, Item EEPA EENG 03326

Type

Archival materials

Negatives (photographic)

Black-and-white negatives

Negatives

Collection Rights

Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. Where noted, some images remain under the copyright of Life/Shutterstock. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Genre/Form

Black-and-white negatives

Negatives

Collection Restrictions

Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.

EEPA.1973-001_ref30407

Large EAD

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo772208969-5bdb-408b-b196-3522cf6b6324

EEPA.1973-001

EEPA

Record ID

ebl-1536870822481-1536871012488-0

Showing 1 result(s)