The facial characteristics of this head are highly stylised, particularly the large eyes and even the outlines of eyebrows have been suggested. Rosettes of large, conical pearls are affixed to the sides of the pearl cap, and strings of pearls attached to that cap hang down in front of and behind the ears. In addition, a single pearl is attached to the centre of the forehead and on each side of it, three bulging protrusions are affixed to the forehead, meant to represent decorative scars. Instead of a neck, the head is endowed with several coral chokers, which have been interpreted as evidence of the subject's wealth.

The only thing known with certainty about the identity of this memorial head is that it is an important Beninese person. In 1919, Luschan argued that all heads of this type without plinths are meant to represent female figures, and in 1963, William Fagg gave a similar head the gender-neutral title, "Bronze Head for the Royal Ancestral Altar." According to Fagg's observations, such heads were ever more stereotypically rendered over the years; as such, he argues, their primary purpose most likely became solely the displaying of ivory teeth. The precious teeth, on which all the achievements of the king were illustrated, were symbols of authority and wealth and were mounted in the opening on the head, which was created specifically for that purpose.

The latest research indicates that this head depicts a man - more specifically, that it is a symbolic depiction of an Oba (king of Benin).

Vgl.:
Philip J. C. DARK: An introduction to Benin art and technology, Oxford 1973, S. 95.
Felix von LUSCHAN: Die Altertümer von Benin, Band 1, Berlin 1919, S. 355-358.
William B. FAGG: Bildwerke aus Nigeria, München 1963, S. 44.
Armand DUCHATEAU: Benin. Kunst einer afrikanischen Königskultur, München 1995, S. 45-53.

Sotheby's, Christies: Examples