ID
212520
Edo designations
English designations
Altar Tableau
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Location
1 Adesogbe (Plymouth) Road, P.M.B. 1115, Benin City , Edo State
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Altar Tableau
Altar Tableau
Altar Tableau
Altar Tableau
Altar Tableau
Altar Tableau

Iconographies

11 annotations
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
Fan
Ẹzuzu
Hand fan

Ẹzuzu (round hand fans) are usually carried by attendants to the Ọba or Iy’Ọba. On the Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques), male attendants to the Ọba carry fans, whereas on Urhotọ (altar tableaux), female attendants carrying fans are depicted flanking the Iy’Ọba. Ẹzuzu connote the status of both the person being fanned and the holder, who is usually an attendant fanning the superior Ọba or Iy’Ọba. Usually, male attendants—members of the Emada—would be represented with the Ọba, while young women would attend to the Iy’Ọba. Ẹzuzu have an important function in cooling; however, the wafting of the fans can also calm spiritual energy, thus making the fan a symbol of peace ( ).

A further symbolic use for the Ẹzuzu includes blowing medicine across the surface of a fan and using mirrored fans by ritual specialists to make predictions about the future ( ). The symbolic importance of fans in Edo belief is reflected in their use as one of a small group of inanimate objects that are the focal subjects of some Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn.

1 annotation
Ẹzuzu
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
Ẹguẹn
Anklet

Ẹguẹn are worn by the Ọba and chiefs as part of their Ehaengbehia, the full regalia worn during special ceremonies. Ẹguẹn are worn around the ankles or calves and can be made from beads, ivory, brass or even iron. A separate category, called Elubase, refers to those which have integrated rattles or crotal bell attachments, however both are described as anklets in English.

As early as 1899, Read and Dalton commented that the anklets worn by figures shown on plaques were a signifier of high rank. Today, anklets continue to signify social status, with the Ọba wearing many ivory and coral anklets stretching up his calves as part of his ceremonial regalia (Okpokunu, Agbontaen‐Eghafona & Ojo, 2005, p.162[106]). However, anklets were not the preserve of the Ọba alone, and different kinds and quantities were worn by other members of the royal court and Edo people. For example, Flora Kaplan (2006, p.85[107]) described a photograph of Iy’Ọba Aghahowa N’Errua, who took her title in 1981, in which she wears coral anklets as one of a number of insignia of her newly invested high rank. In contrast, brass anklets would be worn by young male attendants to the Ọba (see attendant figure), such as sword bearers or Emada pages (Kaplan, 2006, p.90[107]).

2 annotations
Ẹguẹn
Ẹguẹn
Ukpẹ ọkhọkhọ
Curved conical hairstyle worn by Iy'Ọba

The Ukpẹ ọkhọkhọ is a distinctive hairstyle and coral-beaded headdress worn by the Iy’Ọba. The headdress includes a projection called the ‘ede Iy’Ọba’, which indicates that “her spiritual potentialities are closer in quality to those of her ruling son than they are to the powers of the nobles” (Aigbe Eson and Ihama Iguneronmwon in Blackmun 1991, p. 60). The Iy’Ọba’s hairstyle and headdress are meant to resemble ukpe-okhue, or the curved parrot’s beak (Kaplan 1993).

Barbara Blackmun (1991, p. 60) argued that “Benin art is multivocal, and any depiction of the Iye Ọba [sic] is a reference to Idia. Every woman who holds the office of lye Ọba plays the part of Idia, the ideal model of an Ọba’s mother.” Wearing the Ukpẹ ọkhọkhọ is one of the ways the Iy’Ọba plays the role of Idia.

1 annotation
Ukpẹ ọkhọkhọ
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
Ẹgba
Bracelets

Ẹgba (bracelets) are worn as part of ceremonial costumes and could be made of brass, bronze, iron, ivory or wood. The material determines the status of the individual wearing it, as the Ọba controls the use and production of brass, bronze and ivory. Ẹgba is the designation used to describe bracelets worn around the upper arm that could potentially become amulets by putting charms or medicine in them.

1 annotation
Ẹgba
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
hairstyles
Eto
hairstyles

Hairstyles are used to determine a person's status in the society, as chiefs, common folks, chief's wives and the wives of the Ọba all wear different hairstyles. We have Okuku, Ikpe~okhokho, Idu~akpata

1 annotation
Eto
Ewu ivie
Coral Beaded Shirt

The Ewu ivie (coral bead shirt) is made of strings of coral beads. This heavy shirt was part of the ceremonial regalia worn only by a small number of high-ranking members of the palace: the Ọba, the Edaiken, the Iy’Ọba, and the Ezọmọ (Girshick Ben-Amos 1999, p. 68). The Ewu ivie would be worn along with the Odigba (coral bead collar).

1 annotation
Ewu ivie

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 Ralph Denham Rayment Moor from Benin Kingdom.
Auction
November 21, 1905
The object was auctioned to Theodor Glücksmann by Ralph Denham Rayment Moor through Stevens Auction Rooms in London.
Gift
November 21, 1905 to December 31, 1905
The object was given as a gift by Theodor Glücksmann to the Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin with its destination in Berlin.
Restitution
August 25, 2022
The object was restituted by the Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin to the Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria through Hermann Parzinger and Abba Isa Tijani from Berlin to Nigeria.

Related archival documents

1 documents
See all
Museum Catalogue
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin
Die Altertümer von Benin
Date
January 1, 1919 at 12:00:00 AM

Institution data

Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2021-06-14
Language: german
Institution fieldValue
ID
object id
212520
Sachbegriff
designation
Sachbegriff: Plastik; Sachbegriff: Altaraufsatz (Plastikengruppe); Sachbegriff: Figurengruppe (Plastik)
Titel
designation
Titel: Altargruppe mit Königinmutter
Objektref.
description
E 2176/1905, Erwerbung: III/83/1906: III C 20295-20301, Ethnographica, VII A 2232, Bronzen (Benin), Schenkung Th. Glücksmann (Stevens) -- Inhalt: Stevens in London, bietet Beninsachen zum Ankauf an., 1905, Theodor Glücksmann (1905)
Texte Online
description
Online Beschreibung, Ähnlich wie bei Darstellungen des Königs werden die Hände der Königinmutter hier von zwei Dienerinnen, die Fächer halten, gestützt. Vor ihnen stehen zwei weitere Begleitfiguren mit Fächer bzw einem Stab. Am Sockel der Gruppe befinden sich fünf weitere Dienerinnen. Rüsselhände, die Blätter halten, verweisen auf die spirituelle Macht der Königinmutter.Die große Zahl von Gedenkköpfen, Altargruppen und Einzelfiguren für Königinmütter aus dem 18. – 19. Jahrhundert läßt darauf schließen, dass mit der Restauration des Königtums zu Beginn des 18. Jahrhunderts auch das Amt der Königinmutter wieder eine Aufwertung erfuhr. Nicht alle Könige des späten 17. Jahrhunderts hatten dieses Amt besetzen können. Seine Bedeutung war durch die große Zahl von Menschenopfer, die König Ewuakpe anlässlich des Todes seiner Mutter gefordert hatte und die zu seiner vorübergehenden Absetzung als König führten, auf einem Tiefpunkt. [Benin_Königreich]
Material / Technik
material
Material: Messing; Ausgabe: Messing
Material / Technik // Alle
material
Messing, Messing
Maße
dimensions
24,30 x 22,00 x 26,00 cm; ca. 45,00 kg
Objekttyp
object type
Allgemein
Sachbegr. Ausgabe
object type
Plastik
Anzahl Teile
object count
1
Datierung
date made
18. Jh.-19. Jh.
Geogr. Bezüge
production place
Nigeria ( Land ); Benin ( Königreich )
Geogr. Bezüge // Alle
production place
Nigeria, Benin
Beteiligte
prior source
Theodor Glücksmann (1905), Veräußerer; J.C. Stevens (1899), Vorbesitzer
Beteiligte // (Name, Sortierung=kleinste)
prior source
Glücksmann, Theodor
Veräußerer
prior source
null
Erwerb. Notiz
provenance
Notiz: Rückführung Leipzig; Ausgabe: 18. Jh., Auftragsarbeit der Igun Eronmwon oder Gilde der Messinggießer im Königreich Benin; vermutlich geplündert im Zusammenhang mit der britischen Eroberung von Benin, 1897; möglicherweise im Besitz von Sir Ralph Moor bis ca. 1905; wahrscheinlich versteigert bei Stevens' Auction Rooms Ltd., London (J.C. Stevens) ca. 1905; Geschenk von Theodor Glücksmann an das Königliche Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin, 1905.
Verw. Institution
department and institution
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Erwerb. Datum
accession date
1906
Besitzart
accession method
Erwerbungsart
accession method
Schenkung
Digital Assets
images
III C 20301 ZP.doc, Office; III C 20301-A.JPG, Repro Digitalisat; III C 20301.JPG, Repro Digitalisat; III C 20301.JPG, Repro Digitalisat
Erwerb. Nr.
III/83/1906
Ident. Nr.
III C 20301
Ident. Nr. // (Sortiernr.)
0003 C 20301
Obj. Status
vorhanden
Sensitive Content

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