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.
Armring
Unbekannte Werkstatt der Bronzegießergilde Igun Eronmwon / Königreich Benin, Nigeria, 16./17. Jh. / Eisen, Gelbguss / Ankauf von John Lembcke, 1899, Inv. Nr. C 2403
Schmale Armringe mit figürlichen Darstellungen waren üblicherweise im Besitz von Priestern und Würdenträgern. Manche wurden am Oberarm getragen und sollten Stärke verleihen, auch Armringen aus Eisen wurde kraftspendende Energie zugesprochen. Mit schlichteren Gelbgussarmringen schmückten sich sowohl Frauen als auch Männer. Manche bestechen durch die kunstvolle Kombination unterschiedlich farbiger Kupferlegierungen.
Label Text (eng)
Bracelet
Unidentified workshop of the Bronze Casters Guild Igun Eronmwon / Benin Kingdom, Nigeria, 16th/17th century / Brass / Acquired from John Lembcke, 1899, Inv. no. C 2403
Narrow arm rings with figural representations usually belonged to priests and dignitaries. Some were worn on the upper arm and were believed to provide strength, arm rings from iron were also associated with powerful energy. Both women and men adorned themselves with simpler brass bracelets, some of which captivate with their artful combination of different colored copper alloys.