Objektnummer
B06792
Edo designations
English designations
Male Figure
Categories
Figures
Location
Bahnhofspl. 13, 28195 Bremen, Germany
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Iconographies

3 annotations
Ititi ako
Star beads

The Ititi ako is a cluster of coral beads, usually three or four, attached to a pin and used to embellish the royal crowns on Uhunmwu-Elao (commemorative heads) and Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ (pendant masks). These bead clusters are also known as star beads, which indicate the prosperous destiny of an individual or wearer. Apart from enhancing the appearance of the wearer, they also represent the individual’s high social status. Judging from their presence on a variety of head sculptures, both men and women wore Ititi ako.

1 annotation
Ititi ako
Udahae
Beaded forehead band

The Udahae is a forehead band made from coral beads and worn by chiefs. Sometimes a white Igan (feather) from the Oɛɣohɔ (vulturine fish eagle) is tucked into the left side of the Udahae. According to Benin oral tradition, the Udahae was introduced by Ọba Ezoti, the first son of Ọba Ewuare I. During his coronation, Ezoti was shot in the forehead with a poisoned arrow. To stop the bleeding, a band of red beads was wrapped around his forehead while he made public appearances. Fourteen days later, he died from his wound. Since then, Benin chiefs have worn the red-beaded Udahae around their foreheads to commemorate the cap used by Ezoti to stop the bleeding (Egharevba 1968, p. 21).

1 annotation
Udahae
Ẹbẹn
Ceremonial Sword

Ẹbẹn are a type of ceremonial sword of significant importance in the Benin Kingdom. During ceremonies, titled chiefs would hold them or toss them during dances, thereby paying homage to the Ọba at these public events, particularly when a chief receives a certain status. It is forbidden for Ẹbẹn to touch the ground, so the chief must take extra precautions to avoid dropping the Ẹbẹn during the dance. Therefore, the Okae-Odionmwan (head of executioners) dances with the Umozo (warfare or executioner’s sword) behind the dancing chief.

There are two central ceremonial swords used in the royal court of the Benin Kingdom, one of which is the Ẹbẹn, along with the Ada (ceremonial swords). They are distinguished by their blades: the Ẹbẹn blade reflects the shape of a leaf or an oar. Sometimes, it is decorated with openwork designs and/or brass inlays, most commonly shaped as small Ẹbẹn and Ẹkpẹn (leopards). The handle of the Ẹbẹn also has an unusual ring-shaped form, which further differentiates it from the Ada.

1 annotation
Ẹbẹn

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
B06792
Objektname
designation
object type
Figur männlich
Beschreibung
description
Stehende, dreidimensionale Figur. Die Füße sind sehr flach, an den Waden und einem Oberarm werden Schmuckreifen getragen. Weiterhin trägt die Figur eine Art Rock und über die Schultern gehängte Gürtel, die sich auf Bauch und Rücken kreuzen. Ein sehr breiter Schmuckkragen ist zu erkennen, ebenso eine Kopfbedeckung. Die rechte Hand ist angewinkelt und trägt ein Schwert mit geschwungener, doppelter Klinge.
Material
material
Messing
Maße
dimensions
Allgemein: 32,5 × 10,5 × 10 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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