Objektnummer
B00959
Edo designations
English designations
Armcuff
Categories
Ceremonial Regalia
Location
Bahnhofspl. 13, 28195 Bremen, Germany
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Iconographies

2 annotations
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
Ikoro
Armcuff

Ikoro (armcuffs) are made from different materials using different techniques, including brass sheet, cast bronze, and ivory. They were crafted by different guilds depending on the material used: artists of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn cast them in brass or hammered and incised them from brass sheet, whereas artists of the Igbesamwan carved ivory Ikoro. Ikoro were made in different qualities, from rather simple examples with abstract geometric decoration to finely carved ivory examples with brass or copper inlays. Ikoro are worn in pairs on both forearms by chiefs and the Ọba during ceremonies and festivals. Figures depicted on the Emwin Arhe (royal treasures) are often shown wearing such pairs.

1 annotation
Ikoro

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
1903 (approximate)
The object is known to have come into contact with John Paul Frisch, in Edo State.
Transfer
1903 (approximate)
The object was transferred from John Paul Frisch through Bey & Co. from Edo State to Hamburg.
Purchase
March 8, 1903
The object was purchased by the Übersee-Museum Bremen from John Paul Frisch from Hamburg to Bremen.

Related archival documents

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Institution data

Übersee-Museum Bremen
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2021-06-01
Language: german
Institution fieldValue
Objektnummer
object id
B00959
Objektname
designation
object type
Armring
Beschreibung
description
Durchbrochen gearbeiteter Armring. Zwischen 6 Ringen, die mit Elementen geschmückt sind, die an Ösen erinnern, sind insgesamt 5 Musterreihen. Reihe 1,3 und 5 erinnern optisch an ein Band aus 4 Strängen, das endlos in Schlaufen gelegt ist, die an Achten erinnern. Reihe 2 und 4 bilden sich aus zwei ebensolchen Strängen, die aber gegenläufig wellenförmig verlaufen und in deren Mitte ein Schraubenkopfartiges Element ist. Das Objekt hat Defekte (einige Stellen fehlen) und Verformungen.
Material
material
Messing
Maße
dimensions
Allgemein: 14,5 × 9,5 cm
Datierung
date made
before 1903
Ort
production place
Staat
production place
Nigeria
Geber
prior source
provenance
John P. Frisch
Sammler
prior source
provenance
Vorbesitzer
prior source
provenance
Kultur/Ethnie
ethnic attribution
Benin
Sammlung
department and institution
EEK0901
Erwerbsdatum
accession date
1903-03-08
Erwerbsart
accession method
Kauf
Sensitive Content

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