Identifikationsnummer
C 2329
Edo designations
English designations
Relief Plaque
Categories
Palace Architecture & Ornamentation
Location
1 Adesogbe (Plymouth) Road, P.M.B. 1115, Benin City , Edo State
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Relief Plaque
Relief Plaque
Relief Plaque

Iconographies

6 annotations
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 ( ).

3 annotations
Ebe Amẹ
Ebe Amẹ
Ebe Amẹ
Uhanbọ & Ifẹnmwẹ
Bow & Arrow

Uhanbọ (bows) and Ifẹnmwẹ (arrows) were produced by members of the Iwifenmwen (guild of archers and manufacturers of poisoned arrows). Arrows, particularly poisoned arrows, were used in warfare. When depicted on Emwin Arhe (royal treasures), Uhanbọ and Ifẹnmwẹ are believed to represent Ake, the deity of archery. According to Aisien (in Plankensteiner 2007, cat. no. 218, p. 438), Ake was an expert marksman who lived during the reign of Ọba Ẹwuare (c. 1440–1473 AD) and is credited with inventing the poisoned arrow used in hunting and warfare.

1 annotation
Uhanbọ & Ifẹnmwẹ
Traditional Drum
Ema
Traditional drum

Ema Ẹdo (Emedo) is the ‘drum of the Benin people’, made from either cowhide or leopard skin (ohian ema) and a cylindrical wooden body (erhan ema). These drums are beaten with Ukeke (strikers), the hands, or a combination of both during festivals and ceremonies ( ; ).

1 annotation
Ema
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

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
February 22, 1897 (year approximate) to 1898
The object is known to have come into contact with the MKG Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe and Albrecht Thomsen, later in Hamburg.
Purchase
1898
The object was purchased by the MARKK Museum am Rothenbaum Kulturen und Künste der Welt from the MKG Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe through Justus Brinckmann with its destination in Hamburg.
Restitution
December 16, 2022
The object was restituted by the MARKK Museum am Rothenbaum Kulturen und Künste der Welt to the Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria through Carsten Brosda, S.E. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Abba Isa Tijani and Barbara Plankensteiner from Hamburg to Nigeria.

Related archival documents

1 documents
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Date

Institution data

MARKK Museum am Rothenbaum Kulturen und Künste der Welt
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2022-06-10
Languages: german, english
Institution fieldValue
Identifikationsnummer
object id
C 2329
Titel
designation
Bronzereliefplatte, Würdenträger mit Begleiter
Materialien
material
ANORGANISCH/Metall/Gelbguß
Heutiges Staatsgebiet des Herstellungsortes
production place
Afrika/Westafrika/Nigeria/Benin-Reich
Provenienz/Name
prior source
provenance
Brinckmann
Provenienz Objektitinerar Akteure Orte Daten
provenance
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg
Provenienz/Affiliation
provenance
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg
Provenienz/Country
provenance
Germany
Provenienz/Date of Birth
provenance
23.5.1843
Provenienz/Date of Death
provenance
08.02.1915
Provenienz/First Name
provenance
Justus
Provenienz/No
provenance
6
Provenienz/Place of Birth
provenance
Hamburg
Provenienz/Place of Death
provenance
Hamburg
Provenienz/Profession
provenance
Art Historian, Museum Director
Provenienz/Role-Function/0
provenance
Intermediary
Provenienz/Role-Function/1
provenance
Provenienz/Sex
provenance
male
Provenienz/Short Biography
provenance
Justus Brinckmann (1843-1915) was the first director of the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg and in 1874 was the leading figure in its foundation.
Provenienz/Street
provenance
Steintorplatz 1
Provenienz/Town
provenance
Hamburg
Hersteller kulturhist. Herkunftsgesellschaft
ethnic attribution
--/Edo
Heutiger Aufbewahrungsort Sammlung
department and institution
Museum am Rothenbaum. Kulturen und Künste der Welt (MARKK)
Akquisitionsdatum
accession date
1898
Alte Inventarnummer
Inventurdatum
23.07.2015
Label Text (deu)
Reliefplatte: Würdenträger mit Begleiter Unbekannte Werkstatt der Bronzegießergilde Igun Eronmwon / Königreich Benin, Nigeria, 16./17. Jh. / Gelbguss / Ankauf vom Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, 1898, Inv. Nr. C 2329 Die Benin-Krieger sind je nach ihrer sozialen Stellung in unterschiedlicher Größe und Plastizität dargestellt. Der fast mittig positionierte Heerführer in prächtigem Zeremonialgewand mit hochgehaltenem EbenSchwert dominiert den Bildaufbau, der seinem niedrigeren Rang entsprechend kleiner dargestellte Begleiter trägt einen Fächer.
Label Text (eng)
Relief Plaque: Dignitaries with Attendant Unidentified workshop of the Bronze Casters Guild Igun Eronmwon / Benin Kingdom, Nigeria, 16th/17th century / Brass / Acquired from the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, 1898, Inv. no. C 2329 The Benin warriors are depicted in a different size and plasticity depending on their social status. The military leader situated almost in the centre dominates the composition of the plaque. He wears a splendid attire and raises an Eben sword. The representation of his fanbearing companion as comparatively smaller, identifies him as lower ranking.
Maße
Höhe: 41,50 cm; Breite: 29,40 cm
Sensitive Content

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