Iconographies

1 annotations

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

4 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 19, 1897 (day approximate) to June 1899 (month 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 1898

The object is known to have come into contact with William Downing Webster, later in Bicester.

Purchase

1898

The object was purchased by the Canterbury Museum from William Downing Webster from Bicester to Christchurch.

Institution data

Canterbury Museum

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2021-12-07

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Accession No object id
Catalogue No. object id	EA1977.192
Old Accession No. object id
Other Id object id	EA1977.192
Primary Number object id	EA1977.192
Brief Description description	Figure of a warrior holding a dagger in hand. Well defined physical features and dress. It is possible that this figure was once mounted at the apex of a ritual dancing wand. It appears to be too small to have been used as a figure attached to an altar centre-piece.
Media Materials material	Bronze
Measurement Notes Y N display dimensions
Measurement Precision Y N display dimensions
Measurement Reading primary system Y display only dimensions
Measurement Reading secondary system Y display only dimensions
Measurement Type Y display only dimensions
Name Title object type	Figure of warrior, bronze
Item Count object count	1
Primary Prod Date date made
Primary Prod Date Notes date made
Primary Prod Place production place	Benin City/Nigeria/Africa
Acquisition Source Role prior source role	Donor
Acq Source Report provenance	Websters
Acquisition Notes provenance
Acquisition Source provenance	Websters
Donor report provenance	Websters
Provenance Notes provenance
Accession Date accession date	1898
Acquisition Date accession date	1898
Acquisition Method accession method	Purchase
Associated Notes notes
Production Notes notes
Related Outward Loan exhibition history
Documentation Article bibliography	Roger Fyfe and Sarah Murray. “Benin Art in Canterbury Museum”. Records of the Canterbury Museum. Vol 28, 2014. Pg 7- 30.
Condition Date condition
Condition Keyword condition
Condition Notes condition
Condition Part condition
Condition Person condition
Current Condition condition
Current Condition Date condition
Current Condition Description condition
Current Condition Part condition
Current Condition Person condition
Image Publication Status images	Has image(s)
Image Ref - Full path images	\\cm-fp4\vernon images\Collection Images\Catalogue Numbers\EA nos\EA1977.192 Warrior figure.jpg, \\cm-fp4\vernon images\Collection Images\Catalogue Numbers\EA nos\EA1977.192 Warrior figure side.jpg, \\cm-fp4\vernon images\Collection Images\1971 - 1980\1977\ea1977_192_benin.jpg
Image Ref - Relative path images	Catalogue Numbers\EA nos\EA1977.192 Warrior figure.jpg, Catalogue Numbers\EA nos\EA1977.192 Warrior figure side.jpg, 1971 - 1980\1977\ea1977_192_benin.jpg
Photo Audio-Visual Ref images	Catalogue Numbers\EA nos\EA1977.192 Warrior figure.jpg (Image (Electronic)), Catalogue Numbers\EA nos\EA1977.192 Warrior figure side.jpg (Image (Electronic)), 1971 - 1980\1977\ea1977_192_benin.jpg (Image (Electronic))
Primary Image images	\\cm-fp4\vernon images\Collection Images\Catalogue Numbers\EA nos\EA1977.192 Warrior figure.jpg
Cataloguer	Paul Hobson
Classification object type	Ceremonial Artefact
Collecting Unit	Anthropology/Archaeology
Curator
Curator Comments Date
Curator Comments Remarks notes
Current
Date Catalogued	26-Jun-08
Loan In Details
Loan Out Details exhibition history
Location General Notes
Other Id Notes
Other Id Type	Catalogue Number
Procedural Status	Catalogued
Record Created Date	24-Aug-06
System ID	270416
Treatment Date
Treatment Keyword
Treatment Notes
Treatment Part
Treatment Person

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Iconographies

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