OBJEKTE_ID
1708398
Edo designations
English designations
Relief Plaque
Categories
Palace Architecture & Ornamentation
Location
Johannispl. 5-11, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Iconographies

8 annotations
Ẹroro
Bell

Ẹroro (bells) frequently appear as ornaments worn by figures depicted on the Emwin Arhe, particularly on Ama-Eronmwon (bronze relief plaques) and Aken’ni Elao (carved tusks). These Ẹroro are most commonly quadrangular in form or, less commonly, cylindrical with rounded tops. Quadrangular Ẹroro worn around the neck are often part of the attire that indicates that figures can be interpreted as warriors, alongside the Akọn Ẹkpẹn (leopard tooth neck ornament) and the Ohian Ẹkpẹn (leopard tunics).

1 annotation
Ẹroro
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 ( ).

1 annotation
Ebe Amẹ
Uko ugbo-ohamwen
Fortified chest band

Uko ugbo-ohamwen is a chest band often worn around the chests of warriors depicted on the Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (relief plaques) and is fortified with charms. The band was worn to increase the strength and endurance of warriors ( ). This fortified chest band has also been referred to as ukugba olila (Ine n’Igun in Bradbury 1959, B.S. 245; ; ).

1 annotation
Uko ugbo-ohamwen
alligator
Ẹghughu
Crocodile

In the riverine area surrounding Benin City, there are two types of crocodile. The Ẹghughu, known in English as the dwarf or bush crocodile, is believed to be more docile ( ; Ọbazee 2025, p. 133). The second type is the Àgbákà, the aggressive Nile crocodile ( ; Ọbazee 2025, p. 11).

Crocodiles are one of the important animals represented in the historical Emwin Arhe, and they are known as Olokun’s guards or the “policemen” of the waters. The powerful and ferocious qualities of these animals might explain why warrior figures are often depicted wearing Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ (pendant masks) in the shape of crocodile heads on Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques) ( ). Olokun devotees use crocodiles as sacrificial animals in offerings during the worship of Olokun.

1 annotation
Ẹghughu
Asoro
Spears

Asoro (spears) were used as weapons in battle and for hunting ( ; Ọbazee 2025, p. 37). According to , there were two types: long and short. Figures holding Asoro are often depicted on Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques), sometimes in battle scenes and at ceremonies and festivals.

1 annotation
Asoro
leopard teeth
Akọn Ẹkpen
Leopard Teeth Neck Ornament

Akọn Ẹkpẹn are necklaces or neck ornaments made of strung leopard’s teeth. They are worn by figures to signify their high rank and military prowess, as well as by their leaders, the Ezọmọ or Iyasẹ. They are often worn alongside quadrangular Ẹroro (bells) and Ohian Ẹkpẹn (leopard tunics).

The Akọn Ẹkpẹn is clearly and profoundly related to the symbolism of the Ẹkpẹn (leopard) and its association with the Ọba (king), who is metaphorically referred to as ‘ẹkpẹn ne owa’, the ‘leopard of the home’. On the other hand, the Ẹkpẹn is often referred to as the ‘king of the bush’, embodying ferocity, aggression, strength, and leadership—qualities attributed to the Ọba (Nevadomsky 1988). This intricate link between the leopard, the monarch, and his military leaders reinforces the complex hierarchy and spiritual authority central to Benin’s courtly art.

1 annotation
Akọn Ẹkpen
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
Asa
Shield

Asa (shields) are a crucial attribute of warriors and warrior chiefs, forming part of their ceremonial and battle attire as represented on the Emwin Arhe (royal treasures). Asa were usually made from elephant or crocodile skin and used by warriors for protection during hand-to-hand combat (Osadolor 2001, p. 102). Interestingly, the form of Asa depicted on historic royal artefacts differs from those found in museum collections today, reflecting changes in shield shapes and designs over time.

1 annotation
Asa

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 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 William Downing Webster, later in Bicester.
Purchase
1899
The object was purchased by Arthur Baessler from William Downing Webster from Bicester to Berlin.
Donation
1899
The object was donated by Arthur Baessler to the Staatliche Ethnographische Sammlungen Sachsen und Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden from Berlin to Dresden.

Related archival documents

3 documents
See all
An archival document representing a Inventories of 404 page(s)
Inventory
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Stock books
Date
January 18, 1897 to March 26, 1900
An archival document representing a Photograph Album of 2 page(s)
Photograph Album
British Museum
W. D. Webster photograph album
Date
January 1, 1898 to December 31, 1899
An archival document representing a Sales Catalogs of 34 page(s)
Sales Catalogue
Wellcome Collection
Catalogue of ethnological specimens : European and Eastern arms & armour, Prehistoric and other curiosities / W.D. Webster, Oxford House, Bicester, Oxon., England.
Date
January 1, 1899 to December 31, 1899

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
16084
OBJEKTE_ID
object id
1708398
KURZTITEL
designation
Reliefplatte Militärischer Anführer
Object-name-and-materials
designation
material
Reliefplatte mit militärischem Anführer Gelbguss
TITEL
designation
Reliefplatte mit militärischem Anführer;Bronzeplatte mit 1 Krieger
INTERNETKOMMENTAR
description
notes
Hohe militärische Anführer zeichnen sich durch eine zeremonielle Ausrüstung und spezielle Insignien aus. Sie tragen als Kennzeichen ihres Ranges eine rechteckige Glocke als Schutzsymbol und zur Signalgebung auf der Brust, außerdem einen Schurz mit Leopardenabbild oder eine Halskette mit Leopardenzähnen, die Zeichen von Aggressivität zur Abschreckung des Feindes und zugleich magische Schutzmittel sind. (MVD, S. D.)
KATALOGTEXT
description
MATERIAL
material
Metall;Bronze
MASSEBEMERKUNG
dimensions
45,0 x 38,0 x 9,0 cm; 8750g|45 x 38 cm (lt. Karteikarte)
MASSETABANGABE
dimensions
Gesamt
MASSETABBEMERKUNG
dimensions
MASSETABBREITE
dimensions
38
MASSETABDURCHMESSER
dimensions
MASSETABEINHEITLAENGE
dimensions
cm
MASSETABEINHEITLAENGE_IDS
dimensions
1
MASSETABHOEHE
dimensions
45
MASSETABTIEFE
dimensions
9
Dimensions_weight
weight
H: 45 cm W: 38 cm
MASSETABEINHEITGEWICHT
weight
g
MASSETABEINHEITGEWICHT_ID
weight
8
MASSETABGEWICHT
weight
8750
OBJEKTBEZ
object type
Plastik
KONVOLUT
provenance
object count
Sammlung Arthur Baessler; SES Benin-Objekte; William D. Webster, London; 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 William D. Webster, London, in 1899
ERWERBUNG
prior source
Schenkung 1899 von Arthur Baessler, Berlin
PERSON
prior source
unbekannt;Baessler, Arthur;Webster, William Downing
Acquisition-Details
provenance
Donated by Arthur Baessler, Berlin
EIGENTUEMER
provenance
SES/Freistaat Sachsen
PROVENIENZ
provenance
William D. Webster, London (bis 1899); Arthur Baessler, Berlin (erworben 1899 von William D. Webster, bis 1899)
PROVENIENZSTATUS
provenance
SKD-Eigentum
EREIGNISSE
event
Herstellung;Provenienz;Provenienz
ETHNIEN
ethnic attribution
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; William Downing Webster, 1868-1913, English Dealer and Collector of Ethnographica
PRAESENZ
display status
nicht ausgestellt
BIBLIOGRAPHIE
bibliography
Silvia Dolz: Schätze aus Afrika: Benin. Die Schenkung Baessler [Ausst.Kat.]. Dresden, 2006
ERWAEHNTIN
bibliography
MVD, 2006, S. 23 u. Abb. 35
LITERATUR
bibliography
Gunsch, K.W.: The Benin Plaques: A Singular Monument. in: Art. N° 88 Summer 2018. S. 98-113|
LIT_LITERATUR
bibliography
Deimel 2006 [Schätze aus Afrika, ...]
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
6706 (original number)
Dokumentname
16084_1
EREIGNISSE_IDS
12;15;15
ETHNIEN_IDS
ETH_AUTHZUSAETZE
ETH_AUTHZUSAETZE_IDS
ETH_EREIGNISSE
ETH_EREIGNIS_IDS
FERTIG
1
FLAG
EXP
FOTOFELD
Neg. 1273
FUNKTION
Hersteller;Schenker;Händler
GEAENDERT_AM
14.06.2021
GLEICHRANGIG
GND_ID_OBEZ
22955
GND_ID_SCHLAGWORT
118242;22976;24148;33597;26572
GRUNDDATEN
1
INTERNETFREIGABE
1
INVENTURDATUM
INVNR_MERKMALE_IDS
581
KONVOLUTE_IDS
582;959;1409;1191
KOORDINATEN
(10 8);(6,33504 5,62749)
LEIHVERKEHR
LIT_ABBILDUNG
35
LIT_BAND_SEITE
Seite 42
LIT_BEMERKUNG
farbig
LIT_LITERATUR_IDS
821
LIT_NUMMERE
LIT_STA_INETFREIGABE
1
MAND_ID
1
MATERIALIEN_IDS
1233;1116
MERKMAL
Originalnummer
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;645
PND_INETFREIGABE
1;0;1
PND_PERSONEN_IDS
12797488;12106249;12821279
PRAESENZEN_WERT_ID
-67
PROVSTATUS_WERT_ID
-43
REGIONEN_IDS
612
REG_EREIGNISSE
Erwerbung
REG_EREIGNIS_IDS
9
SAMMLUNG
Afrika
SAMMLUNGEN_ID
535
SCHLAGWORT
Krieger;Platte;Relief;Rüstung;Waffe
TECHNIKEN_IDS
75
UNTERGEORDNET
VORLAGEN
WEITERE_NUMMERN
6706
WISSENSCHAFT
1
XRAY
###
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