Iconographies

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Ẹbẹn

Ceremonial Sword

See Ẹbẹn page

Ẹbẹn are a type of ceremonial sword of significant importance in the Benin Kingdom. During ceremonies, titled chiefs would hold them or toss them during dances, thereby paying homage to the Ọba at these public events, particularly when a chief receives a certain status. It is forbidden for Ẹbẹn to touch the ground, so the chief must take extra precautions to avoid dropping the Ẹbẹn during the dance. Therefore, the Okae-Odionmwan (head of executioners) dances with the Umozo (warfare or executioner’s sword) behind the dancing chief.

There are two central ceremonial swords used in the royal court of the Benin Kingdom, one of which is the Ẹbẹn, along with the Ada (ceremonial swords). They are distinguished by their blades: the Ẹbẹn blade reflects the shape of a leaf or an oar. Sometimes, it is decorated with openwork designs and/or brass inlays, most commonly shaped as small Ẹbẹn and Ẹkpẹn (leopards). The handle of the Ẹbẹn also has an unusual ring-shaped form, which further differentiates it from the Ada.

1 annotation

Provenance

3 events

Production

unknown to 1916 (approximate)

The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.

Unknown

1911 to 1916 (approximate)

The object is known to have come into contact with Charles George & Lady Grey, in Nigeria.

Donation

1948

The object was donated by Charles George & Lady Grey to the Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust from Hassocks to Brighton.

Institution data

Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2022-02-10

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Acc/ID Number object id	R4689/3
Object Name designation	Figure; Chief; Oba; Wives
Description description	Single cast brass figure of the Oba of Benin and his wives. The Oba is seated on a bench holding a sword and smoking a pipe. Round his neck the coral emblem of his rank. A wife is seated on each side of him and three other wives in front of him: one on a folding stool, one holding his pipe and one apparently fanning him or holding shield. Some holes in base from casting process
Description/Acquisition Overview description	39 Ethnographic specimens from Nigeria (see PDF 'R4689_Acc Register List') for all objects. Accession register images; dmas_rgregb_1948_d04.tif and dmas_rgregb_1948_d11.tif and dmas_rgregb_1948_d12.tif.
Materials material	Brass
Measurements dimensions	0133/0000/0000
Record Type object type	Core
Date Created date made	Pre 1948
Place Created production place	Benin, West Africa, Africa; Nigeria, West Africa
Credit Line prior source	Donated to Brighton Museum & Art Gallery by Lady Grey in June 1948
Donor prior source	Lady Grey, Wife of Sir Charles Grey. Address in Register (1935) Rodstone, Friars Oak, Hassocks
Collector provenance	Lady Grey; Sir Charles Grey
Object (hi)story provenance	Accession register (dmas_rgregb_1948_d11.tif) Brass figure of the Oba of Benin and his wives. The Oba is seated on a bench holding a sword and smoking a pipe. A wife is seated on each side of him and three other wives in front of him, one on a folding stool, one holding his pipe and one apparently fanning him. Height 5 1/4 inches. Benin, S.Nigeria
Date Collected date collected	Pre 1948
Place Collected place collected	Nigeria, West Africa, Africa
Cultural Grp ethnic attribution	Edo; Bini; African
Department department and institution	World Art
Acquistion date accession date	6/4/48
New research info 2022 notes	Information on donors Sir Charles & Lady Grey for Collection R4689 40 objects from West Africa, 26 from Benin, donated in 1948, donated by Lady Grey (Jessy Elizabeth), in Acc register says she is the wife of Sir Charles Grey. They collected 40 objects in Nigeria and donated them in 1948, 24 of them these objects were collected in ‘Benin’ and cultural group listed as Edo/Bini. Sir Charles George Grey Bart. Born Weymouth, Dorset 26/06/1880 -12/12/1957, 4th Baronet of Fallodon Married Jessy Elizabeth Sutherland 1910 Kensington, London. Studied in Medicine and became Senior medical officer in West Africa, was in Nigeria and then Cameroon, circa 1911 to 1916? Both Charles and Jessy Grey died at Rodstone, Friars Oak. Charles12 December 1957 and Jessy 5 February 1966. Died sine prole. Charles Grey was the son of Harry George Grey and Charlotte Cockburn Grey. He left no heir so this brother Sir Harry Martin Grey, became 5th Baronet, of Fallodon. The barony passed to a relative Sir Arthur Dysart Grey 7th baronet b.1949 And to his son Thomas Jasper Grey b.1998.
Ext Exhib History exhibition history
Legal Status legal status	PERMANENT COLLECTION
Creator
Documentation Issues	Africa Review 2013/14
History file contents	Accession register notes: '(Nos. 1 – 4 were given to Lady Grey by the Oba of Benin)'
Loan Allowed?	Y
Other no.	WA503027

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