Provenance

3 events

Production

unknown to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)

The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igbesamwan guild and 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

1947

The object is known to have come into contact with the Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria, later in Lagos.

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 field	Value
Inventory number object id	LG1947.21.25ab
URL weblink
Object Description description	Uko Ẹkhaẹ (powder keg) directly translates to ‘powder container’ in the Edo language. These are usually small casks that were used to store and transport powder. Only three Uko Ẹkhaẹ are known in collections today. These are cylindrical containers with a flat bottom and top and a small cylindrical opening, usually stoppered. They all have lugs, one at the base and another at the top, to allow for a strap so they could be slung across the torso and carried. Although covered in repoussé-decorated brass sheeting, these kegs are in fact made from wood. While they have been historically described as gunpowder kegs (e.g. Roth 1903, fig.139, p.129), , Plankensteiner (2007, p.303) points out the opening is too large for gunpowder to have been effectively poured into the narrow jet of a gun. Furthermore, residue analysis from the interior of one keg showed remnants of reddish powder, possibly a natural dye. Based on this evidence, the context in which these kegs was used is likely to have been ceremonial.
Diameter dimensions
Dimension L (cm) dimensions	23.5
Dimension W (cm) dimensions	19.1
Dimension H (cm) dimensions
Brief Object Description designation	Wooden powder keg coated in brass sheet, with wooden stopper in the shape of a beheaded woman and cotton carrying band
Material material	wood,brass,cotton
Object Count object count	2
Date Made date made
Associated Guild producer
Production Technique production technique
Production Place production place
Inscriptions inscriptions
Note
Inventory Book Description
fileNames	LG19472125ab_1.jpg, LG19472125ab_3.jpg, LG19472125ab_2.jpg

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