OBJEKTE_ID
1704893
Edo designations
English designations
Commemorative Head
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Heads
Location
Johannispl. 5-11, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Iconographies

5 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
Ẹkpẹn
Leopard

The Ẹkpẹn (leopard) is an animal that appears most often among the motifs decorating the Emwin Arhe (royal treasures). The Ẹkpẹn symbolises the valour and strength of the Ọba, as well as his political authority. The Benin people eulogise the Ọba as the ‘ẹkpẹn n'owa’ (leopard of the home).

When a hunter kills a leopard, he must say “ẹkpẹn n'oha” (I killed a bush leopard), as it is taboo to say that a hunter killed a leopard without specifying that it is a bush leopard, as otherwise this would “be tantamount to symbolically killing the king” (Nevadomsky 1988, p. 81). For this reason, leopards of the bush are called Atalakpa to distinguish them from those that represent the Ọba.

1 annotation
Ẹkpẹn
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

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 Unknown member of the British colonial military campaign on Benin - February 1897 from Benin Kingdom.
Unknown
February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to 1899
The object is known to have come into contact with the Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, later in Berlin.
Purchase
1899
The object was purchased by Arthur Baessler from the Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in Berlin.
Donation
1899
The object was donated by Arthur Baessler to the Staatliche Ethnographische Sammlungen Sachsen und Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden from Berlin to Dresden.

Institution data

Staatliche Ethnographische Sammlungen Sachsen und Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2021-09-28
Language: german
Institution fieldValue
INV_NR
object id
16135
OBJEKTE_ID
object id
1704893
KURZTITEL
designation
Gedenkkopf uhunmwun-elao, Zahnhalter
Object-name-and-materials
designation
material
Gedenkkopf (uhunmwun-elao) Gelbguss Abguss vorhanden
TITEL
designation
Gedenkkopf (uhunmwun-elao);Zahnhalter in Form eines Kopfes aus Bronze, Abguss vorhanden
INTERNETKOMMENTAR
description
notes
Die in aufwändigem Wachsausschmelzverfahren hergestellten Kopfplastiken stellen zentrale Elemente der ausgesprochen repräsentativen Königskultur Benins dar. Im Auftrag des herrschenden Königs Oba wurden solche Gedenkköpfe für den verstorbenen König angefertigt, um auf einem ihm geweihten Ahnenaltar im Palastbezirk von Benin City aufgestellt zu werden. Die schon seit der Ogiso-Zeit hergestellten Kopfplastiken wurden später zusammen mit figürlich beschnitzten Elfenbeinzähnen präsentiert, wobei der Kopf als Ständer fungierte. In der Plastik wird die große Bedeutung des Kopfes als Sitz des Denkens, der Weisheit und der schöpferischen Fähigkeiten hervorgehoben. Er ist somit Garant für Erfolg im Leben und im Falle des Kopfes des Oba Garant für das Wohlbefinden seines Volkes. (MVD, S. D.)
KATALOGTEXT
description
MATERIAL
material
Metall
MASSEBEMERKUNG
dimensions
49,5 x 31,0 x 32,5 cm; 26,7 kg|49,5 x 31 cm (lt. Karteikarte)
MASSETABANGABE
dimensions
Gesamt
MASSETABBEMERKUNG
dimensions
MASSETABBREITE
dimensions
31
MASSETABDURCHMESSER
dimensions
MASSETABEINHEITLAENGE
dimensions
cm
MASSETABEINHEITLAENGE_IDS
dimensions
1
MASSETABHOEHE
dimensions
49,5
MASSETABTIEFE
dimensions
32,5
Dimensions_weight
weight
H: 49,5 cm W: 31 cm
MASSETABEINHEITGEWICHT
weight
kg
MASSETABEINHEITGEWICHT_ID
weight
7
MASSETABGEWICHT
weight
26,7
OBJEKTBEZ
object type
Plastik
KONVOLUT
provenance
object count
Sammlung Arthur Baessler; SES Benin-Objekte; SES Dossier Benin-Objekte, Überlieferung an die Kontaktstelle für Sammlungsgut aus kolonialen Kontexten
ORT_DATUM_BIS
date made
1897;1899
ORT_DATUM_KONKRET
date made
';'
ORT_DATUM_VON
date made
;
MATTECHBEMERKUNG
production technique
Gelbguss
TECHNIK
production technique
gegossen
ORTE
production place
Federal Republic of Nigeria;Benin City
ORTZEITBEMERKUNG
production place
Königreich Benin, vor 1897
Ort_Zeit-Bemerkung
production place
Königreich Benin, vor 1897
REGIONEN
production place
Benin
Collector/Previous-owner
prior source
Arthur Baessler,Berlin, purchased from Völkerkundemuseum Berlin in 1899
ERWERBUNG
prior source
Schenkung 1899 von Arthur Baessler, Berlin|
PERSON
prior source
unbekannt;Baessler, Arthur
Acquisition-Details
provenance
Donated by Arthur Baessler, Berlin
EIGENTUEMER
provenance
SES/Freistaat Sachsen
PROVENIENZ
provenance
Ankauf 1899 durch Arthur Baessler vom Völkerkundemuseum Berlin||
PROVENIENZSTATUS
provenance
SKD-Eigentum
EREIGNISSE
event
Herstellung;Provenienz
ETHNIEN
ethnic attribution
Edo
Institution
department and institution
Staatliche Ethnographische Sammlungen Sachsen - Museum für Völkerkunde Dresden
MUSEUM
department and institution
MVD
Institutional-acquisition-date
accession date
1899
Comments
notes
Arthur Baessler, 1857-1907, German Ethnologist and Athropologist
PRAESENZ
display status
nicht ausgestellt
BIBLIOGRAPHIE
bibliography
'- Museum für Völkerkunde Dresden (Hrsg.): Schätze aus Afrika: Benin. Die Schenkung Baessler [Ausst.Kat.]. Dresden, 2006|- Wolf, Siegfried: Die Gelbguss-Köpfe der Dresdener Benin-Sammlung Beschreibung und Vergleich. In: Abhandlungen und Berichte des Staatl
ERWAEHNTIN
bibliography
1) MVD, 2006, S. 20 u. Abb. 12||2) Wolf, 1962. S. 91-120, Tafel 1 + 2
LITERATUR
bibliography
LIT_LITERATUR
bibliography
Deimel 2006 [Schätze aus Afrika, ...];Wolf 1962
BILDUNTERSCHRIFT
images
Übernahme Altdaten|Region original: Großregion => Westafrika; Land => Nigeria; Gebiet => Benin|Ethnie original: kein Eintrag|Region bei Datenübergabe: Afrika>Westafrika>Nigeria>Benin
ALTINVENTARE
AUTHENTIZITAETSZUSATZ
;
AUTHZUSAETZE_IDS
;
Additional-IDs
Dokumentname
16135_1
EREIGNISSE_IDS
12;15
ETHNIEN_IDS
2796
ETH_AUTHZUSAETZE
ETH_AUTHZUSAETZE_IDS
ETH_EREIGNISSE
Sammelereignis
ETH_EREIGNIS_IDS
17
FERTIG
1
FLAG
EXP
FOTOFELD
Neg. 1284
FUNKTION
Hersteller;Schenker
GEAENDERT_AM
14.06.2021
GLEICHRANGIG
GND_ID_OBEZ
22955
GND_ID_SCHLAGWORT
8866;75899;19029;22955;265724
GRUNDDATEN
1
INTERNETFREIGABE
1
INVENTURDATUM
INVNR_MERKMALE_IDS
KONVOLUTE_IDS
582;959;1409
KOORDINATEN
(10 8);(6,33504 5,62749)
LEIHVERKEHR
LIT_ABBILDUNG
12;1/2
LIT_BAND_SEITE
Seite 31;Bd. 21 / Taf.
LIT_BEMERKUNG
farbig;schwarz-weiss
LIT_LITERATUR_IDS
821;1961
LIT_NUMMERE
;
LIT_STA_INETFREIGABE
1;1
MAND_ID
1
MATERIALIEN_IDS
1233
MERKMAL
MUSEEN_ID
35
ORTE_IDS
2328926;2347283
ORT_AUTHZUSAETZE
;
ORT_AUTHZUSAETZE_IDS
;
ORT_BEZUG
;
ORT_EREIGNISSE
Herstellung;Erwerbung
ORT_EREIGNISSE_IDS
12;9
PND_BEZUG
;
PND_FUNKTIONEN_IDS
-2;133
PND_INETFREIGABE
1;0
PND_PERSONEN_IDS
12797488;12106249
PRAESENZEN_WERT_ID
-67
PROVSTATUS_WERT_ID
-43
REGIONEN_IDS
612
REG_EREIGNISSE
Erwerbung
REG_EREIGNIS_IDS
9
SAMMLUNG
Afrika
SAMMLUNGEN_ID
535
SCHLAGWORT
Altar;Kopf;Kult;Plastik;Ritualobjekt
TECHNIKEN_IDS
75
UNTERGEORDNET
VORLAGEN
WEITERE_NUMMERN
WISSENSCHAFT
1
XRAY
###
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