J.F.G. Umlauff was a well-known Hamburg family business founded by Johann Gustav Friederich Umlauff (1833–1889) in 1869 and continued by his son Heinrich Umlauff (1868–1925). Initially run as a natural produce shop and shellfish factory, it later added ethnographic shows and the trade in ethnographic objects to its business portfolio. The acquisition of objects for resale took place (presumably also through intermediaries) via the port of Hamburg. Between 1900 and 1937, the museum acquired a total of six objects from the Kingdom of Benin from the Umlauff company, first by purchase, then later by exchange.
Altarring
Unbekannte Werkstatt der Bronzegießergilde Igun Eronmwon / Königreich Benin, Nigeria,
18. Jh. / Gelbguss / Ankauf von J.F.G. Umlauff, 1901, Inv. Nr. C 2900
Der Ring ist nur zu drei Vierteln erhalten. Er ist mit abwechselnden Darstellungen von Menschenund Leopardenköpfen versehen, dazwischen finden sich EbenZeremonialschwerter und gefesselte menschliche Torsi. Solche Ringe wurden, möglicherweise paarweise, auf Altäre gelegt.
Alle bekannten Beispiele haben eine ähnliche Ikonografie, die im Kontext von Menschenopfern oder Exekutionen anzusiedeln ist.
Label Text (eng)
Altar Ring
Unidentified workshop of the Bronze Casters Guild Igun Eronmwon / Benin Kingdom, Nigeria, 18th century / Brass / Acquired from J.F.G. Umlauff, 1901, Inv. no. C 2900
Only three quarters of this ring are preserved. It is decorated with alternating depictions of human and leopard heads, interspersed with Eben ceremonial swords and shackled human torsos. Such rings were, possibly placed in pairs, on altars. All known examples have a similar iconography, which situates them in the context of human sacrifice or execution.