Inventarisnummer
AM-673-35
English designations
Figure Group
Categories
Figures
Location
Willemskade 25, 3016 DM Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Iconographies

4 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
Ukpọn
Wrapper

Ukpọn is the Edo term for cloth (Aigbe 1985, p. 55; Ọbazee 2025, p. 542) and is used here to refer to the wrappers or kilts worn by many of the figures depicted on the Emwin Arre (royal treasures). The cloth worn around the waist may be plain, but it is more commonly richly decorated with motifs associated with the monarchy, power, and wealth, such as the Ọba'nui (infinity symbol) and Uhunme Ikpotoki (Portuguese heads).

The Benin Kingdom was renowned for its textile production, both for local use and for trade ( ). Within the royal court, members of the Owina n’Ido produced ukhuen cloth for the Ọba and other members of the court, who wore it as wrappers during festivals and ceremonies ( ).

Alongside locally produced textiles, imported cloth was also an important commodity in the Benin Kingdom’s trade networks. Textiles were exchanged with neighbouring production centres, particularly Ijebu ( ), while European traders brought silks, woollens, linens, and cotton from Europe and Asia from the 15th century onwards ( ).

1 annotation
Ukpọn
Round Neck Bead
Ikele
Coral bead circlet

Ikele is a single stiff string or circlet of coral beads. It is worn by chiefs, such as senior chiefs who have been made Enigie (Inneh 2007, p.107), and is a sign of nobility and rank. The Ikele may only be worn once the Ọba has conferred a person with the right to wear the beads, and the Ikele must always be worn when appearing before the Ọba. According to Ekhaguosa Aisien (in Plankensteiner 2007, cat. nr. 301, p.512) when a chief is wearing the Ikele, they may not eat nor drink in public, and they “constitute an embassy of the Benin Palace wherever he might be.”

1 annotation
Ikele
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

Provenance

4 events
Production
unknown to 1967 (approximate)
The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.
Unknown
1965 to 1967
The object is known to have come into contact with Jacques Kerchache, later in Paris.
Purchase
1967 (approximate)
The object was purchased by Ida & Piet Sanders from Jacques Kerchache from Paris.
Donation
2007
The object was donated by Ida & Piet Sanders to the Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen and Wereldmuseum with its destination in Berg en Dal.

Institution data

Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen and Wereldmuseum
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2022-07-19
Language: dutch
Institution fieldValue
Inventarisnummer
object id
AM-673-35
Objectnaam
designation
object type
Beeld
Titel
designation
object type
Beeld van groep van acht menselijke figuren
Associatie/beschrijving (online getoond)
description
Dit tafereel stelt waarschijnlijk een deel van een inhuldigingsceremonie voor van een Oba. De figuur in het midden zou een priester voorstellen die op het punt staat een haan te offeren. De rijk uitgedoste figuur moet de Oba voorstellen. De helpers aan we
Materiaal en techniek (NB: ook thesaurustermen aanpassen!)
material
Koperlegering
Afmetingenlabel (H x B x D)
dimensions
H 19 cm x B 26 cm
Datering
date made
1850
Verzamelgeschiedenis (toelichting)
provenance
Prof. Sanders heeft dit object verworven in 1967 van galerie Jacques Kerchache, Parijs. ' Piet Sanders (1912-2012) and his wife Ida Sanders (1915-2010) donated two Benin objects. An idiophone, or clapper, in the shape of a bronze bird on a staff (WM-73123) to the Wereldmuseum in 1998 and a brass platform with a group of figures (AM-673-35) to the Afrika Museum in November 2007. The 2007 donation had been originally offered for donation to the Wereldmuseum in 1998 but the offer was later withdrawn and instead it was given to the Afrika Museum as the relationship between Sanders and the Wereldmuseum had greatly deteriorated due to the museum’s perceived lack of interest in African collections at that time.' 'The couple bought the brass group of figures (AM-673-35) from the influential and controversial art dealer Jacques Kerchache (1942-2001) in Paris around 1967. Kerchache was a noted French art dealer for about twenty years with a gallery in Paris from 1965 to 1980, and also one of the main initiators of the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac through his friendship with president Jacques Chirac (Corbey 2000). He authored a number of books about art from different continents, including Africa (Viatte 2020, Bruno Mignot 2002-2020). However, his methods of acquiring and presenting artefacts have been the subject of some critique. Donation documentation from the Wereldmuseum shows that someone called ‘Keita’ gave this artwork a date of 18th century. According to ‘Van Rijn’ - likely to be Guy van Rijn, an African art consultant - it is of later manufacture.' (Excerpt from Provenance no. 2 'The Benin Collections at the National Museum of World Cultures' written by Rosalie Hans with Annette Schmidt, 27-01-2021).
Cultuur (NB: ook thesaurusterm aanpassen!)
ethnic attribution
Bini
Deelcollectie
department and institution
Materiële cultuurcollectie
Verwervingsdatum
accession date
2007-11
Wijze van verwerving
accession method
Schenking
Literatuur
bibliography
Publicaties over het object
bibliography
For more information about the provenance, see <a href="https://issuu.com/tropenmuseum/docs/2021_provenance_2__benin__e-book" target="_blank"> Provenance #2 – the Benin collections at the National Museum of World Cultures </a> (NB: Issuu uses cookies).
Objectstatus
legal status
Eigendom
Met dank aan (online getoond)
Periode (NB: ook thesaurusterm aanpassen!)
Verkorte naam
AFRIK
Sensitive Content

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