Provenienz/Short Biographyprovenance Friedrich Erdmann (1866-presumably 1907) was a merchant from Hamburg and worked as a managing director for the trading company Bey & Zimmer in Lagos, Warri and Sapele in southern Nigeria. Erdmann is known to have visited Benin City after it was conquered by British troops, taking the artefacts that remained there to sell with the permission of the British military, as well as photographing the area. Erdmann was one of the key figures in Bey’s Benin business, selling a total of 13 objects from the Kingdom of Benin to the museum in 1898. His widow, Alma, corresponded with Felix von Luschan (1854–1924) in Berlin, and later sold objects from her husband’s collection. His son Kurt (1901–1964) was an art historian; he also sold pieces from his father’s estate.
Altar der Hand Ikegobo
einer Iyoba
Unbekannte Werkstatt der Bronzegießergilde Igun Eronmwon / Königreich Benin, Nigeria, 17./18. Jh. / Gelbguss / Ankauf von Friedrich Erdmann, 1898, Inv. Nr. C 2338
Der Altar der Hand ist dem individuellen Erfolg seines Besitzers oder seiner Besitzerin gewidmet. Die Hand symbolisiert Errungenschaften im persönlichen Leben. Der Besitz dieser Altäre war ein Vorrecht hochrangiger Amtsinhaber und von Menschen, die etwas Großes geleistet hatten; also des Königs, der Königinmutter, der Würdenträger, Schmiede und Schnitzer, der Kriegshelden oder reicher Händler. Altäre aus Gelbguss waren dem König, der Königinmutter und dem Ezomo, einem hohen Heerführer, vorbehalten.
Altar of the Hand of an Iyoba Ikegobo
Unidentified workshop of the Bronze Casters Guild Igun Eronmwon / Benin Kingdom, Nigeria, 17th/18th century / Brass / Acquired from Friedrich Erdmann, 1898, Inv. no. C 2338
The Altar of the Hand is dedicated to the individual success of its owner. The hand symbolizes achievements in personal life.
The possession of such altars was a prerogative of high-ranking titleholders and of those who had made great achievements, like the king, the queen mother, chiefs, blacksmiths and carvers, war heroes or rich merchants.
Altars made of brass were reserved for the king, the queen mother and the Ezomo, a high army commander.