TitAccessionNo
58201
Edo designations
English designations
Relief Plaque
Categories
Palace Architecture & Ornamentation
Location
4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Iconographies

6 annotations
Asa
Shield

Asa (shields) are a crucial attribute of warriors and warrior chiefs, forming part of their ceremonial and battle attire as represented on the Emwin Arhe (royal treasures). Asa were usually made from elephant or crocodile skin and used by warriors for protection during hand-to-hand combat (Osadolor 2001, p. 102). Interestingly, the form of Asa depicted on historic royal artefacts differs from those found in museum collections today, reflecting changes in shield shapes and designs over time.

1 annotation
Asa
Oko/Akohẹn
Horn/Flute

Akohẹn, or ivory horns, are played by members of the Ikpakoen (guild of ivory hornblowers), while Oko, or flutes, are played by members of the Ikpeziken (guild of royal flute players). Among the Emwin Arhe (royal treasures), Oko and Akohẹn are usually depicted being played by brass-cast figures representing members of these guilds, and also appear on Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques), Aken'ni Elao (carved altar tusks), and Urhotọ (altar tableau).

Today in Benin City, when a public procession leaves the palace, a court official may sound side-blown horns made from ivory. Historically, these instruments were also used during warfare, where they were played alongside Ema (drums) and Ẹroro (bells), producing a “cacophony of sound” whose “[t]he psychological effect of the barrage of noise magnified the size of Benin’s forces” ( ).

Some Oko/Akohẹn were also cast in brass by members of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn. However, these brass examples are understood not to have been functional instruments and could not have been blown like their ivory counterparts ( ).

1 annotation
Oko/Akohẹn
Colar Bead
Odigba
Coral beaded collar

Odigba (coral-beaded collar) is a rigid neck collar made of coral beads, worn as part of ceremonial attire only by senior princes who have been made Enigie (Inneh 2007, p. 107). Although Ibafe (2007, p. 43) argued that the Odigba was introduced during the Ogiso period (c. 900–c. 1170 AD) by Ogiso Ere, along with other symbolically important Emwin Arhe, such as the Ada (ceremonial sword) and the Ẹbẹn (ceremonial sword), this seems unlikely, as coral was only introduced in the late 15th century through trade with Portuguese merchants.

1 annotation
Odigba
leopard teeth
Akọn Ẹkpen
Leopard Teeth Neck Ornament

Akọn Ẹkpẹn are necklaces or neck ornaments made of strung leopard’s teeth. They are worn by figures to signify their high rank and military prowess, as well as by their leaders, the Ezọmọ or Iyasẹ. They are often worn alongside quadrangular Ẹroro (bells) and Ohian Ẹkpẹn (leopard tunics).

The Akọn Ẹkpẹn is clearly and profoundly related to the symbolism of the Ẹkpẹn (leopard) and its association with the Ọba (king), who is metaphorically referred to as ‘ẹkpẹn ne owa’, the ‘leopard of the home’. On the other hand, the Ẹkpẹn is often referred to as the ‘king of the bush’, embodying ferocity, aggression, strength, and leadership—qualities attributed to the Ọba (Nevadomsky 1988). This intricate link between the leopard, the monarch, and his military leaders reinforces the complex hierarchy and spiritual authority central to Benin’s courtly art.

1 annotation
Akọn Ẹkpen
Water fern
Ebe Amẹ
Water Fern

Ebe Amẹ refers to a wide variety of plants, particularly the leaves of the water fern or river leaf, found in riverine areas of southern Nigeria ( ). Artists from the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn used these as a decorative motif in the background of most Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques). The petals of the Ebe Amẹ, like the points of the ἀghàdàgháda (crossroads), represent the four cardinal directions: north, east, south, and west. The number four plays a foundational role in the Edo calendar, which is structured around four market days ( ).

1 annotation
Ebe Amẹ
Ẹroro
Bell

Ẹroro (bells) frequently appear as ornaments worn by figures depicted on the Emwin Arhe, particularly on Ama-Eronmwon (bronze relief plaques) and Aken’ni Elao (carved tusks). These Ẹroro are most commonly quadrangular in form or, less commonly, cylindrical with rounded tops. Quadrangular Ẹroro worn around the neck are often part of the attire that indicates that figures can be interpreted as warriors, alongside the Akọn Ẹkpẹn (leopard tooth neck ornament) and the Ohian Ẹkpẹn (leopard tunics).

1 annotation
Ẹroro

Provenance

5 events
Production
1504 (approximate) to 1550 (approximate)
The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.
Unknown
unknown to 1885
The object has an unknown provenance event.
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
1950 to April 8, 1958
The object is known to have come into contact with John J. Klejman, later in New York City.
Purchase
April 8, 1958
The object was purchased by the Carnegie Museum of Art from John J. Klejman and J. J. Klejman Gallery through Sarah Mellon Scaife Foundation from New York City to Pittsburgh.

Institution data

Carnegie Museum of Art
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2021-08-13
Language: english
Institution fieldValue
TitAccessionNo
object id
58201
TitMainTitle
designation
object type
Plaque: Chief and Attendants
PhyMediumComments
material
brass and copper alloy
Measurements/DepthCM
dimensions
730
Measurements/DepthInch
dimensions
7/2/08
Measurements/HeightCM
dimensions
4410
Measurements/HeightInch
dimensions
3/17/08
Measurements/WidthCM
dimensions
3750
Measurements/WidthInch
dimensions
3/14/04
MesMeasurementType_tab
dimensions
overall
CreDateCreated
date made
late 16th-early 17th century
CreEarliestDate
date made
1575
CreLatestDate
date made
1625
Creators/BioNationality
producer
Kingdom of Benin, Nigeria
Creators/HisBeginDateNotes
producer
African, Edo Culture, Benin Kingdom, present day Nigeria
Creators/NamFullName
producer
Royal Brasscasters' Guild
CreCountry_tab
production place
Nigeria
AcqCreditLine
prior source
Purchased with funds provided by the Sarah Mellon Scaife Foundation
CreProvenance
prior source
provenance
Royal Brasscasters' Guild, Benin, late 16th-early 17th century. J. J. Klejman, New York, NY, by April 1958 [1]; purchased by Department of Fine Arts, Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, April 1958 [2]. Notes: [1]. According to J. J. Klejman's invoice, dated April 9, 1958, "this plaque, until now unknown to scholars, was brought to this continent in 1885 by a high mining official from Africa." [2]. The plaque was purchased through the Sarah Mellon Scaife Foundation Fund; it was accessioned on April 8, 1958. Updated and under review by CGK
CatDepartment
department and institution
Decorative Arts and Design
Events/0/EventsSummary
exhibition history
Wish You Were Here: Tokens and Mementos - Exhibition (06/28/1997 - 01/11/1998)
Events/1/EventsSummary
exhibition history
Africa Explores - Exhibition (11/07/1992 - 01/10/1993)
Events/2/EventsSummary
exhibition history
Panopticon: An Art Spectacular - Exhibition (10/05/2002 - 08/17/2003)
Bibliography/0/SummaryData
bibliography
[Citation] The Carnegie Museum of Art Collection Highlights. p. 29, color plate.
Bibliography/1/SummaryData
bibliography
[Book] Lane, John R. et al. Museum of Art, Carnegie Institute Collection Handbook. Pittsburgh: Carnegie Museum of Art, 1985.
TitObjectStatus
legal status
Accessioned
Bibliography/0/BibBibliographyRef_key
1
Bibliography/0/ecatalogue_key
1
Bibliography/1/BibBibliographyRef_key
2
Bibliography/1/ecatalogue_key
1
CatKeywords_tab
Metals
CatType
Item
CreCreationNotes
Benin Kingdom c. 1300-1897 formerly dated c. 1575-1625
Creators/Creators_key
1
Creators/ecatalogue_key
1
Events/0/ObjAttachedObjectsRef_key
1
Events/0/ecatalogue_key
1
Events/1/ObjAttachedObjectsRef_key
2
Events/1/ecatalogue_key
1
Events/2/ObjAttachedObjectsRef_key
3
Events/2/ecatalogue_key
1
PhyMediumCategory
sculpture
ecatalogue_key
1
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