Catalogue
Catalog Number
63B:1:6
Institution
Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria
Edo designations
Aza
Aza
English designations
Bell
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Location
1 Adesogbe (Plymouth) Road, P.M.B. 1115, Benin City , Edo State
Bell
Bell

Provenance

4 events
Production
unknown to 1951 (approximate)
The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ematon guild in Benin City.
Unknown
unknown to 1951 (approximate)
The object is known to have come into contact with Edwin Osayame, in Benin City.
Unknown
1951 to 1961
The object is known to have come into contact with Robert Elwyn Bradbury and Edwin Osayame, in Benin City.
Unknown
1963
The object is known to have come into contact with Robert Elwyn Bradbury and the Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria, in Benin City.

Institution data

Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria
The data was transferred directly by the institution and digitized by Digital Benin in collaboration with the NCMM
Last updated: 2023-11-30
Languages: english, bini; edo
Institution fieldValue
Catalog Number
object id
63B:1:6
Material
material
Iron
Dimension L (cm)
dimensions
13.5
Diameter
dimensions
2.5
Description
description
This knife with a bell-like handle would be used at oranmila shrine to summon spirits and ancestors. The Aza are not frequently mentioned in works on Edo culture, which is likely because they are used on fewer occasions compared to the other clapper bells. In English, the term bell is used to describe objects designated in Edo as Aza and Ẹroro. Whereas most Ẹroro are made from brass and some even from ivory, Aza are made from iron. The form of Aza differs as well: rather than sharing the quadrangular form of most Ẹroro, Aza are conical and have pointed protrusions at the top, sometimes in the form of a knife. Unlike Ẹroro, Aza are not featured on other objects such as relief plaques, and they are not written about much in literature on material culture from Benin.
P.N.
object id
63B:1:9
Object count
object count
1
Associated Guild
producer
Igun Ematon
Production Place
production place
Benin City
URL
weblink
https://digitalbenin.org/catalogue/36_63B16
Production Technique
production technique
Smithing
Dimension H (cm)
dimensions
Dimension W (cm)
dimensions
Title
designation
Date Made
date made
Inscription
inscriptions
fileNames
63B16_2.jpg, 63B16_1.jpg
Sensitive Content

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