ID
211803
English designations
Roof Figure
Categories
Palace Architecture & Ornamentation
Figures
Location
1 Adesogbe (Plymouth) Road, P.M.B. 1115, Benin City , Edo State
Loading...

Iconographies

7 annotations
Uko ugbo-ohamwen
Fortified chest band

Uko ugbo-ohamwen is a chest band often worn around the chests of warriors depicted on the Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (relief plaques) and is fortified with charms. The band was worn to increase the strength and endurance of warriors ( ). This fortified chest band has also been referred to as ukugba olila (Ine n’Igun in Bradbury 1959, B.S. 245; ; ).

1 annotation
Uko ugbo-ohamwen
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
Ubanu'hi / Obanu'hi
Ubanu'hi / Obanu'hi
Inifinity Symbol

The Ubanu'hi (infinity symbol) is a kind of guilloche or interlaced strapwork motif that can be angular or rounded. It was used by Edo artists in the decoration of many Emwin Arhe (royal treasures) and is ubiquitous in Benin royal arts. Ubanu'hi is a shortened form of “uba no Ọba ya de agbon ke ehimwin yi”, which means “the rope with which the Ọba ties the heaven and earth together” (pers. comm. Chief John Igbineweka Inneh n’Igbesawman, 2022). Similarly, Paula Ben-Amos Girshick (in Plankensteiner 2007, pp. 339, 341) described this as “Ọba n’iri agbon”, or the “rope of the world” pattern.

According to Ọbabanmu Ineh (in Blackmun 1984, p. 51), the use of this motif indicates that objects were carved by members of the Igbesanmwan. However, the motif is found on all types of Emwin Arhe (royal treasures), not only those made of ivory or wood. On the flanges of the Ama (relief plaques) alone, Kathryn Gunsch (2018, pp. 75–77) identified three different versions of the Ubanu'hi and, through her analysis of over 850 plaques, found that these different Ubanu'hi forms align with other characteristics, such as dimensions, the prevalence of ornamental motifs, and stylistic qualities. Together, these provide evidence, she argues, of different production groups among the plaque makers .

Kate Ezra (1992, pp. 209, 264) went on to argue that the use of these motifs indicates that certain objects were used in a “royal context” and were associated with “royal patronage”.

1 annotation
Ubanu'hi / Obanu'hi
Agbada
Sword

Agbada is a type of short sword with a double-edged blade, used by warriors in hand-to-hand combat ( ; ; Ọbazee 2025, p. 10). Warrior figures carrying Agbada are often depicted on the Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques), both in scenes of combat and in ceremonial contexts.

1 annotation
Agbada
Ẹgba
Bracelets

Ẹgba (bracelets) are worn as part of ceremonial costumes and could be made of brass, bronze, iron, ivory or wood. The material determines the status of the individual wearing it, as the Ọba controls the use and production of brass, bronze and ivory. Ẹgba is the designation used to describe bracelets worn around the upper arm that could potentially become amulets by putting charms or medicine in them.

1 annotation
Ẹgba
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
Round Neck Bead
Ikele
Coral bead circlet

Ikele is a single stiff string or circlet of coral beads. It is worn by chiefs, such as senior chiefs who have been made Enigie (Inneh 2007, p.107), and is a sign of nobility and rank. The Ikele may only be worn once the Ọba has conferred a person with the right to wear the beads, and the Ikele must always be worn when appearing before the Ọba. According to Ekhaguosa Aisien (in Plankensteiner 2007, cat. nr. 301, p.512) when a chief is wearing the Ikele, they may not eat nor drink in public, and they “constitute an embassy of the Benin Palace wherever he might be.”

1 annotation
Ikele

Provenance

5 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 1899
The object is known to have come into contact with William Downing Webster, later in Bicester.
Purchase
1899
The object was purchased by the Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin from William Downing Webster from Bicester to Berlin.
Restitution
August 25, 2022
The object was restituted by the Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin to the Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria through Hermann Parzinger and Abba Isa Tijani from Berlin to Nigeria.

Related archival documents

2 documents
See all
Date
Date

Institution data

Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2021-06-14
Language: german
Institution fieldValue
ID
object id
211803
Sachbegriff
designation
Sachbegriff: Plastik; Sachbegriff: Menschliche Plastik
Titel
designation
Titel: Würdenträger, vielleicht als Dachreiter verwendet.
Objektref.
description
E 547/1899, Erwerbung: I/123/1899: III C 9947-9960, Bronzen (Benin), Webster, 1899, William Downing Webster (1895); VIII A 10737, Positiv, SW, Plastik, männl., Bronze, Kurt Grunst (*04.04.1921)
Texte Online
description
Online Beschreibung, Die Figur eines Würdenträgers wird wegen der ungewöhnlichen Befestigung auf einer Metallplatte als eine Dachfigur gedeutet. Bewaffnet mit Schwert und Bogen und angetan mit einem Leopardenüberwurf, einer viereckigen Glocke an einer Kette aus Korallenperlen und Leopardenzähnen sowie einer Mitra-förmigen Kopfbedeckung ist dieser Würdenträger ein Bild der königlichen Macht.Wahrscheinlich wurde die Dachdekoration zusammen mit den Reliefplatten in den Palasthöfen in einer Krise des Königtums im 17. Jahrhundert entfernt. [Benin_Königreich]
Material / Technik
material
Material: Messing; Material (engl.): copper alloy; Technik: Guss; Technik (engl.): casting; Ausgabe: Messing, Guss; Ausgabe (engl.): Brass, copper alloy, casting
Material / Technik // Alle
material
Messing, Guss, Brass, copper alloy, casting, Messing, copper alloy, Guss, casting
Maße
dimensions
45,50 x 22,60 x 15,80 cm (Messung am Objekt); 4,10 kg
Objekttyp
object type
Allgemein
Sachbegr. Ausgabe
object type
Plastik
Anzahl Teile
object count
1
Datierung
date made
16. Jh. - 17. Jh.
Geogr. Bezüge
production place
Nigeria ( Land ); Benin ( Königreich )
Geogr. Bezüge // Alle
production place
Nigeria, Benin
Beteiligte
prior source
William Downing Webster (1895), Sammler
Beteiligte // (Name, Sortierung=kleinste)
prior source
Webster, William Downing
Veräußerer
prior source
null
Erwerb. Notiz
provenance
Notiz: Rückführung Wiesbaden; Ausgabe: Auftrag bei der Messinggießergilde Igun Eronmwon im Königreich Benin im 16. oder 17. Jh.; Besitz vor 1897 derzeit unbekannt; vermutlich geplündert im Zusammenhang mit der britischen Eroberung von Benin, 1897; in unbekanntem Besitz zwischen Feb. 1897 und 1899; erworben vom Museum für Völkerkunde von William D. Webster, 1899.
Verw. Institution
department and institution
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Erwerb. Datum
accession date
1899
Besitzart
accession method
Erwerbungsart
accession method
Ankauf
Digital Assets
images
Vorlage; Vorlage; Vorlage; Vorlage; Vorlage; Vorlage; Vorlage; Vorlage; Vervielfältigung; Vervielfältigung; Vervielfältigung; Vervielfältigung; Vervielfältigung; Vervielfältigung; Vervielfältigung; III C 9948.jpg, Vorlage
Erwerb. Nr.
I/123/1899
Ident. Nr.
III C 9948
Ident. Nr. // (Sortiernr.)
0003 C 09948
Obj. Status
vorhanden
Sensitive Content

Digital Benin collates digital material from institutions, and some of this material is inherently colonial and contains words, terms and phrases that are inaccurate, derogatory and harmful towards African and African diasporic communities. Catalogue transcriptions, book titles, exhibition titles and museum titles may contain harmful terms. We recognise the potential for the material to cause physical and mental distress as well as evoke strong emotions. Owing to the scale of the collection’s data, a process to implement sensitive-content warnings in the displayed data is still incomplete. The material within the catalogue does not represent Digital Benin’s views. Digital Benin maintains a strong anti-colonial, anti-racist position and affirms its support for centring the humanity of historically marginalised and disenfranchised communities. Read more about the background of this statement here