IMDAS ID
BF5891F566284C9DB43E764C51460AF3
Edo designations
English designations
Commemorative Head
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Heads
Location
Gerberau 32, 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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Commemorative Head
Commemorative Head

Iconographies

4 annotations
Ikharo
Forehead markings

Ikharo are linear keloid markings depicted on the forehead of Uhunmwu-Elao (commemorative heads) in groups of three or four above each eye. The exact meaning of Ikharo is debated; some have argued that they relate to the gender or tribal identification of the person on whom they are depicted. For example, has argued that they were worn only by men; however, their use in depictions is not consistent with this, and the Iy’Ọba are also shown wearing them. argued that they are instead a stylistic feature employed by artists that varied over time.

The naming of these markings differs between publications. For example, describe these markings as “agbaguda n'ehae”, which they write translates literally as “blades of the forehead”. However, later went on to call these “ikharo”, as used here. referred to these forehead markings as ikharo, meaning “tribal mark [of eye]”.

1 annotation
Ikharo
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
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
Beaded Crown
Ẹde
Beaded Crown

Although many other members of the Benin royal court wore a variety of hats and forms of headwear, only the Ọba may wear the Ẹde (beaded crown). The Ọba must never be seen bare-headed, and successive Ọbas introduced different styles and types of crowns ( ).

Across different media and objects, Ọbas are depicted wearing various types of crowns, all elaborately crafted from coral beads. Some feature tall projections rising from the crown, known as Oro, while others have curved projections extending from either side of the head, known as the winged cap. The latter was introduced only in the 19th century, most likely by Ọba Osẹmwẹndẹ ( ). Depictions of Ọba Esigie on Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques) show him wearing an elaborate crown decorated with large jasper or coral beads ( ).

1 annotation
Ẹde

Provenance

4 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 Unknown member of the British colonial military campaign on Benin - February 1897 from Benin Kingdom.
Unknown
February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to July 13, 1907
The object is known to have come into contact with Samuel George Fenton and Fenton & Sons, later in London.
Purchase
July 13, 1907
The object was purchased by the Städtische Museen Freiburg from Fenton & Sons from London to Freiburg im Breisgau.

Related archival documents

3 documents
See all
An archival document representing a Scans of published works of 6 page(s)
Scan of published works
Städtische Museen Freiburg
Excerpt from the inventory book (1895-1924/1925), Ethnological Collection, Museum of Nature and Man, Municipal Museums of Freiburg
Date
January 1, 1924
An archival document representing a Correspondence of 1 page(s)
Correspondence
Städtische Museen Freiburg
Letter from the director of the then municipal collections in Freiburg, Dr. Hermann Gombert to Prof. Philip Dark on June 7, 1960, Ethnological Collection, Museum of Nature and Man, Municipal Museums in Freiburg
Date
June 7, 1960
An archival document representing a Invoices of 1 page(s)
Invoice
Stadtarchiv Freiburg
Museum für Natur- und Völkerkunde: Ethnographie 1907 - 10
Date
June 1, 1907

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
BF5891F566284C9DB43E764C51460AF3
Inventarnummer
object id
I/0050
Indigene Bezeichnung (Museumsobjekt)
edo designation
Uhumwela
Titel (Museumsobjekt)
designation
object type
Gedenkkopf
Titel engl.
designation
object type
Memorial head
Titel franz.
designation
object type
Tête commémorative
Text kurz Online-Sammlung dt.
description
Gedenkkopf eines Königs des Königreichs Benin (etwa 900 n. Chr. bis Ende des 19. Jh.). Gedenkköpfe waren Teil der königlichen Ahnenaltäre. Die zwei flügelähnlichen Kopfaufsätze sind ein eindeutiges Datierungsmerkmal für die Köpfe des 19. Jahrhunderts. Sie stellen zwei aufgesteckte Federn dar als Zeichen für hohes Alter, Weisheit und Autorität. Die Könige Benins hatten ungeheure Macht: sie standen an der Spitze des Reiches, erhielten Steuern und Tribute und kontrollierten den Handel.
Text kurz Online-Sammlung engl.
description
Commemorative head of a king from the Kingdom of Benin (circa 900 CE until the end of the 19th century). Commemorative heads were part of royal ancestral altars. The two wing-like headdresses are a unique feature when dating the heads from the 19th century. They represent two attached feathers as a sign of great age, wisdom and authority. The kings of Benin had immense power: they ruled the empire, received taxes and tributes and controlled trade.
Text kurz Online-Sammlung franz.
description
Tête commémorative d’un roi du royaume de Bénin (environ 900 après J.-C. à la fin du XIXe siècle). Les têtes commémoratives faisaient partie des autels dédiés aux ancêtres du roi. Les deux éléments verticaux, similaires à des ailes, sont des indices évidents qui permettent de dater ces têtes commémoratives du XIXe siècle. Ils représentent deux plumes érigées, symboles d’un grand âge, de sagesse et d‘autorité. Les rois du Bénin avaient un pouvoir considérable : ils commandaient l’Empire du Bénin, encaissaient les impôts et les taxes et contrôlaient le commerce.
Text lang Online-Sammlung dt.
description
Die Gedenkköpfe dienten der Erinnerung und Verehrung der verstorbenen Könige, die auf Altären gewürdigt wurden. Bronze war ein Symbol für Beständigkeit und Schutz und stand für die Kontinuität der Herrschaft der Oba. In der Spätzeit des Beninreiches dienten die Bronzeköpfe Elefantenstoßzähnen als Sockel und bildeten mit ihnen eine rituelle Einheit. Die vertikale Ausrichtung des Elefantenzahns versinnbildlichte die Verbindung des Königs mit seinen Vorfahren.
Text lang Online-Sammlung engl.
description
These heads served to commemorate and venerate deceased kings, who were honoured on altars. Bronze was a symbol of stability and protection and embodied the continuity of Oba rule. In the late period of the Benin Empire, the bronze heads served as pedestals for elephant tusks and formed a ritual union with them. The vertical alignment of the elephant tusk symbolised the king's connection with his ancestors.
Text lang Online-Sammlung franz.
description
Les têtes commémoratives avaient pour fonction de commémorer et vénérer les rois décédés, honorés par des autels. Le bronze était un symbolise de constance et de protection, il exprimait la continuité du règne des Obas. Au terme de l’Empire du Bénin, les têtes commémoratives en bronze étaient utilisées comme socles pour les défenses en ivoire et formaient avec elle une unité rituelle. La silhouette verticale des défenses incarnait le lien du roi à ses ancêtres.
Trägermaterial
material
Bronze
Maße zum Objekt
dimensions
Höhe: 360,00 mm; Durchmesser: 270,00 mm
Objektbezeichnung
object type
Büste
Objektbezeichnung engl.
object type
Bust
Objektbezeichnung franz.
object type
Buste
Datierung
date made
19. Jahrhundert
Datierung bis
date made
31.12.1899
Datierung von
date made
01.01.1800
Entstehungszeit
date made
19. Jahrhundert
Technik
production technique
Gelbguss
Fundort/Herkunft
production place
Benin <Königreich>; Nigeria; Westafrika
Sammler/in öffentlich
prior source
Fenton & Sons
Voreigentümer
prior source
Fenton & Sons
Objektgeschichte
provenance
Ausgestellt in "Letzte Ölung Nigerdelta" 24.05.2014- 25.01.2015, Objekttext vorhanden. Ausstellungsbereich. Ausstellungstext zur Sonderausstellnug "Letzte Ölung Nigerdelta" verknüpft.
Ethnie
ethnic attribution
Edo
Institution
department and institution
Ethnologische Sammlung MNM
Eingangsdatum
accession date
13.07.1907
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/BF5891F566284C9DB43E764C51460AF3
Fotograf (Medienobjekt)
Killian, Axel
Sammlung
Afrika
Schlagworte
Ethnologie (außereuropäische); Benin-Bronze
Sensitive Content

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