Iconographies

1 annotations

Uki

Moon

See Uki page

The Uki (moon) is said to be associated with coolness, peace, and joy and to be more important than even Owẹn (the sun) ( ; ). The behaviour and nature of the moon were and are studied by the Iwoki, the guild of astrologists and meteorologists established by Ọba Esigie (c. 1504–50).

The Uki is usually depicted in crescent or half-moon form and appears on some of the Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques), sometimes on its own as a corner motif and at other times as part of compositions with figures identified as being part of the Iwoki. Crescent forms of the moon are also used as part of the motifs decorating textiles and clothing worn by figures.

1 annotation

Provenance

4 events

Production

unknown to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)

The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.

Looted

February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to June 1899 (year approximate)

The object was looted by February 1897 Unknown member of the British colonial military campaign on Benin from Benin Kingdom.

Unknown

February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to 1902

The object is known to have come into contact with the Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, later in Berlin.

Purchase

1902

The object was purchased by the American Museum of Natural History from the Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin from Berlin to New York City.

Institution data

American Museum of Natural History

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2022-09-10

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Catalog # object id	1/6512
Ref. # object id	EB9
Object Name designation object type	Bracelet
Dimensions dimensions	13.6 x 8.4
Country production place	Nigeria/Benin
Locale production place	Benin
Donor prior source	Berlin Royal Ethnographic Museum
Acq Year accession date accession method	1902 Purchase
In HOAP?	No

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