IMDAS ID
13AE9A46A4484490ACBAB16E2F516158
Edo designations
English designations
Relief Plaque
Categories
Palace Architecture & Ornamentation
Location
Gerberau 32, 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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Relief Plaque
Relief Plaque

Iconographies

7 annotations
TBC_Ukuse
Rattle

Spherical rattles made from gourds and covered with nets, known as Ukuse, are held in both hands by some figures depicted on Emwin Arre (royal treasures). Barbara Blackmun ( ) noted that these rattles are unusually spherical and smaller than the gourd rattles used today, suggesting that they may have had a particular significance. The Ọba is sometimes depicted holding such a rattle while “wearing an empowering necklace and his most elaborate crown.” On this basis, Blackmun argued that the “spherical rattle of diminutive size and shape may have been employed to heal, or to bring about other transformation” ( ).

1 annotation
TBC_Ukuse
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
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
tribal marks
Iwu
Facial and Body Markings

Iwu are facial and body markings (scarifications) that were historically worn by Edo men and women. However, since the 1960s, the practice has been nearly extinct (Aisien 2011). In the past, Iwu were used as a way of proving that one was an Edo citizen, and the ceremony of having Iwu completed was an important rite of passage for men and women. The Osiwu, who also practised circumcision and other surgical procedures, would carry out the procedure of adding Iwu. There are different types of Iwu: ‘blades’ worn on the torso (Iwu-eko), and those worn on the face, such as Ikharo (three or four markings above the eyebrows), Irho (two narrow ‘blades’ worn on each cheek), Ovbihue (nasal ‘blades’), Ovbi-agbanmwen (chin ‘blade’), and Igho-okpa/Ukpgho (three forehead ‘blades’) (Aisien 2011, p. 22).

The number of Iwu also varied depending on the identity of the person wearing them. For example, royal men would wear six ‘blades’ on their torso, whilst men who were not royal would wear seven ‘blades’. Meanwhile, the Ọba’s female children would wear fifteen ‘blades’, and all other women would wear sixteen (Aisien 2011).

1 annotation
Iwu
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
Iviawẹ
Stacked Beaded Anklet

Ọba gha ye Ivie gie ọwan, ẹ ghi tama rẹn ehe nọ gha bae yi (When the Ọba gifts you a bead, he doesn’t tell you how to wear it) (Daniel Inneh, pers. comm., 27 September 2025).

Iviawẹ (also spelled ĺvîowẹ) are coral-beaded anklets, often worn stacked together (Aigbe 1985, p. 28; Okpokunu, Agbontaen-Eghafona & Ojo 2005, p. 162; Ọbazee 2025, p. 279). Many of the figures depicted on the Emwin Arhe (royal treasures) in brass, bronze, ivory, and wood are shown wearing these. According to Daniel Inneh (pers. comm., 27 September 2025), beads were sent to people whom the Ọba wished to honour, although there was no directive on how to wear them.

Mostly, people who wear Iviawẹ are identified as palace chiefs or priests and priestesses. However, today anyone can wear them as cultural identifiers or fashion pieces.

1 annotation
Iviawẹ
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

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.
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
1904 (approximate)
The object is known to have come into contact with Bernhard Adolf Heemke, in Benin City.
Transfer
1904 (approximate)
The object was transferred from Bernhard Adolf Heemke through Bey & Co. from Benin City to Hamburg.
Purchase
October 13, 1904
The object was purchased by the Städtische Museen Freiburg from Bernhard Adolf Heemke from Hamburg to Freiburg im Breisgau.

Related archival documents

2 documents
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Date
Date

Institution data

Städtische Museen Freiburg
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2021-05-21
Languages: english, german, french
Institution fieldValue
IMDAS ID
object id
13AE9A46A4484490ACBAB16E2F516158
Inventarnummer
object id
I/0051
Indigene Bezeichnung (Museumsobjekt)
edo designation
Ama
Titel (Museumsobjekt)
designation
object type
Reliefplatte
Titel engl.
designation
object type
Relief plate
Titel franz.
designation
object type
Plaque de relief
Text kurz Online-Sammlung dt.
description
Bronze-Relief mit zwei reich geschmückten Figuren. Derartige im Wachsausschmelzverfahren gefertigte Reliefplatten befanden sich an hölzernen Pfählen der langen, viereckigen Galerien des Palastes im alten Königreich Benin (etwa 900 n. Chr. bis Ende des 19. Jh.).
Text kurz Online-Sammlung engl.
description
Bronze relief with two richly decorated figures. Relief plates of this type, using the lost-wax casting process, were placed on wooden poles of the long, square galleries of the palace in the old Kingdom of Benin (around 900 CE until the end of the 19th century).
Text kurz Online-Sammlung franz.
description
Relief en bronze montrant deux figurines richement décorées. Créées par le procédé de la cire perdue, les plaques en relief de ce genre avaient leur place sur les poteaux en bois des longues galeries rectangulaires du palais dans l’ancien royaume du Bénin (environ 900 après J.-C. jusqu’à la fin du XIXe siècle).
Text lang Online-Sammlung dt.
description
Die Reliefplatte zeigt zwei reich geschmückte, höfische Würdenträger in der typischen gemessenen Haltung. Vor der Brust die Rassel Ukuse, erkenntlich an der Handstellung: der gebeugte rechte Mittelfinger verschließt das Musikinstrument. Der hohe Kragen sowie die Bänder um die Hand- und Fußgelenke deuten Korallenschmuck an. Die Fischadlerfeder an der Kopfbedeckung weist auf die Häuptlingswürde hin. Die vierblättrigen im Hintergrund eingravierten Blüten von Wasserpflanzen symbolisieren den Bezug des Herrschers zum Gott des Wassers Olokun und zur Sonne, die im Reich Olokuns untergeht. Die Zahl der Blätter verweist auf die Ordnung der Benin-Welt in einem Vierersystem: Vier Himmelsrichtungen, vier Wochentage, vier Tageszeiten bestimmten das Leben. Formal zeigt das Motiv auch auf den Einfluss der europäischen und islamischen Ornamentik. Etwa 900 n. Chr. begründet, war das Königreich Benin über Jahrhunderte einer der bedeutendsten Staaten Westafrikas. Der König, Oba, übte große Macht auf sein Volk und die Region aus. Er galt als Vermittler zwischen der irdischen und der geistigen Welt und als Herrscher mit übermenschlicher Kraft. Die Gier der Europäer nach den Schätzen Afrikas brachte dem Königshaus anfänglich großen Reichtum. Seine Lage am Delta des Nigers, der über 4000 km in das Inland führt, begünstigte seine Vormachtstellung. Die Obas kontrollierten den Handel mit Rohstoffen und Sklaven an der Küste und im Inland. Sie erreichten so im 16. und 17. Jh. den Höhepunkt ihrer Macht. Der Expansion des britischen Empires konnte der König Benins jedoch Ende des 19. Jh. nicht standhalten. Die Briten eroberten 1897 dessen Hauptsitz und das Reich galt als zerschlagen. Zur Stärkung der indirekten Herrschaft über die Kolonie setzte der englische König 1914 Eweka II als Thronfolger der Oba-Dynastie wieder ein. Die Autorität des Oba blieb jedoch für immer verloren. Noch heute führen Obas den königlichen Hof Benins fort, bis 2016 regierte Oba Erediauwa I, der besonders vom Volk der Edo / Binis als spiritueller und lokalpolitischer Führer verehrt wurde.
Text lang Online-Sammlung engl.
description
The relief plate shows two richly decorated courtly dignitaries in typically measured posture. In front of the chest we see the Ukuse rattle, recognisable by the hand position: the bent right middle finger closes the musical instrument. The high collar and the bands around the wrists and ankles suggest coral jewellery. The osprey feather on the headdress indicates the rank of chieftain. The four-petalled flowers of water plants engraved in the background symbolise the ruler's relationship to the god of water, Olokun and the sun setting in Olokun's kingdom. The number of leaves refers to the order of the Benin world based on a system of four: four cardinal points, four days of the week, four times of the day determined the flow and passage of life. Formally, the motif also shows the influence of European and Islamic ornamentation. Founded around 900 CE, the Kingdom of Benin was one of the most important states in West Africa for centuries. The king, Oba, exercised great power over his people and the region. He was regarded as a mediator between the earthly and the spiritual world and as a ruler with superhuman strength. European greed for the treasures of Africa initially brought great wealth to the royal house. Its location on the delta of the Niger River, which runs over 4,000 km inland, favoured its supremacy. The Obas controlled the trade in raw materials and slaves on the coast and inland. As a result of this, they reached the peak of their power in the 16th and 17th centuries. However, at the end of the 19th century, the king of Benin was unable to withstand the expansion of the British Empire. The British forces conquered its capital in 1897 and the empire was effectively broken up. To strengthen indirect rule over the colony, the English king reinstated Eweka II as heir to the Oba dynasty in 1914. However, the Oba's authority was lost forever. Even today, Obas continue to hold the royal court of Benin. Until 2016, Oba Erediauwa I ruled, who was particularly revered by the Edo/Bini people as a spiritual and local political leader. Translation: Timothy Connell
Text lang Online-Sammlung franz.
description
Ce relief montre deux dignitaires richement ornés de la cour, dans la posture typique mesurée. Devant leur poitrine, ils tiennent le hochet ukuse, reconnaissable à la position de la main : le majeur droit replié bouche l’orifice de l’instrument de musique. Le haut col ainsi que les lanières autour des articulations des mains et des pieds semblent indiquent des parures faites de coraux. La plume de balbuzard pêcheur sur la coiffe fait référence au rang d’un chef de tribu. Les fleurs à quatre feuilles de plantes aquatiques, gravées dans la plaque du relief, symbolisent le lien du souverain au dieu de l’eau Olokun et au soleil qui se couche dans l’empire d’Olokun. Le nombre de feuilles fait référence à l’ordre de la société du Bénin, un système à quatre éléments : la vie au Bénin était déterminée par quatre orientations célestes, quatre jours de la semaine et quatre saisons. Au niveau formel, le motif évoque également l’influence de l’ornementation européenne et islamique. Fondé vers 900 après J.-C., le royaume du Bénin fut pendant des siècles l’un des plus pays les plus importants d’Afrique de l’Ouest. Le roi, appelé Oba, exerçait un grand pouvoir sur son peuple et sur la région. Il était considéré comme un entremetteur entre le monde terrestre et spirituel et comme un souverain doté d’un pouvoir surhumain. L’avidité des Européens visant à exploiter les trésors africains assura la prospérité de la maison royale dans un premier temps. Son hégémonie était favorisée par sa situation sur le delta du Niger, fleuve qui irrigue le pays sur plus de 4000 km. Les Obas contrôlaient le commerce des matières premières et des esclaves sur la côte, ainsi que dans le pays. Ils atteignirent le sommet de leur pouvoir entre le XVIe et le XVIIe siècle. Le roi du Bénin ne cependant freiner l’expansion de l’Empire britannique à la fin du XIXe siècle. Les Britanniques prirent possession de son siège principal en 1897, ce qui mit fin au royaume du Bénin. Afin de renforcer la domination indirecte de la colonie, en 1914, le roi anglais nomma Eweka II comme successeur de la dynastie des Obas. Cependant l’autorité initiale de l’Oba était perdue à jamais. Les Obas dirigent encore à présent la cour royale du Bénin. Oba Erediauwa I a régné jusqu’en 2016, vénéré à titre de leader spirituel et politique d’ordre local, en particulier par le peuple des Edos / Binis. Traduction: Julia Walter
Trägermaterial
material
Bronze
Maße zum Objekt
dimensions
Breite: 360,00 mm; Höhe: 550,00 mm
Objektbezeichnung
object type
Relief
Objektbezeichnung engl.
object type
Relief
Objektbezeichnung franz.
object type
Relief
Datierung
date made
16. Jahrhundert; 17. Jahrhundert
Datierung bis
date made
31.12.1699
Datierung von
date made
01.01.1500
Entstehungszeit
date made
16. Jahrhundert; 17. Jahrhundert
Technik
production technique
Gelbguss
Fundort/Herkunft
production place
Benin <Königreich>; Nigeria; Westafrika
Sammler/in öffentlich
prior source
Heemke, Bernhard Adolf
Voreigentümer
prior source
Heemke, Bernhard Adolf
Objektgeschichte
provenance
Ausstellungsbereich
Ethnie
ethnic attribution
Edo
Institution
department and institution
Ethnologische Sammlung MNM
Eingangsdatum
accession date
13.10.1904
Eingangsart
accession method
Kauf
Digitaler Katalog Standort
display status
Nicht ausgestellt
Nutzungsrechte (Medienobjekt)
license
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
URL-Digitalisat
weblink
https://onlinesammlung.freiburg.de/de/object/13AE9A46A4484490ACBAB16E2F516158
Fotograf (Medienobjekt)
Killian, Axel
Sammlung
Afrika
Schlagworte
Ethnologie (außereuropäische); Benin-Bronze
Sensitive Content

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