John Lembcke (1873-?) originally came from Mecklenburg and was a Hamburg merchant. He worked as an agent for the trading company L. Pagenstecher & Co. in southern Nigeria. The company maintained several branches in Cameroon and Nigeria and traded raw rubber, among other things.Lembcke was probably employed at a branch of the firm in Warri, from where he went to nearby Benin City. There, he found objects which he eventually brought to Hamburg. Between 1899 and 1905, he sold 40 objects from the Kingdom of Benin to the museum.
Funktionsstäbe
Unbekannte Werkstatt der Bronzegießergilde Igun Eronmwon / Königreich Benin, Nigeria, 18./19. Jh. (?) / Gelbguss / Schenkung John Lembcke, 1916, Inv. Nr. 16.118:1 / Ankauf vom Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, 1898, Inv. Nr. C 2331 / Ankauf von John Lembcke, 1899, Inv. Nr. C 2395
Die feinen Stäbe sollen von Würdenträgern mitgetragen worden sein, wenn sie in offiziellem Auftrag des Königs agierten. Mit dem Stab verwiesen sie auf ihren Status als seine Abgesandten. Die Stäbe unterscheiden sich durch die dargestellten Personen am Griff, deren Kleidung und Attribute wohl Auskunft über den Rang und das spezifische Aufgabenfeld des Trägers gaben.
Label Text (eng)
Staffs of Office
Unidentified workshop of the Bronze Casters Guild Igun Eronmwon / Benin Kingdom, Nigeria, 18th/19th century (?) / Brass / Donated by John Lembcke, 1916, Inv. no. 16.118:1 / Acquired from the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, 1898, Inv. no. C 2331 / Acquired from John Lembcke, 1899, Inv. no. C 2395
The fine staffs are said to have been carried by dignitaries when they were dispatched on official missions as delegates of the king. The staff denoted their status as his emissaries. They are distinguished by the depicted persons on the handle, whose attire and attributes may have provided information about the rank and specific field of activity of the bearer.