Ẹgba (bracelets) are worn as part of ceremonial costumes and could be made of brass, bronze, iron, ivory or wood. The material determines the status of the individual wearing it, as the Ọba controls the use and production of brass, bronze and ivory. Ẹgba is the designation used to describe bracelets worn around the upper arm that could potentially become amulets by putting charms or medicine in them.

Based on the information available today, it is not possible to know whether the Ẹgba were worn around the upper arm or the wrist, therefore it has been decided to group together all objects variously described as ‘bracelets’, ‘arm rings’, ‘armlets’ and ‘bangles’ are here as Ẹgba. Some bracelets may have been worn as a symbol or reflection of an individual’s political and/or social status – for example, brass bracelets with horse heads were worn only by the Ọba and certain powerful chiefs to show ‘dignity and achievement’ (Curnow in Plankensteiner, 2007, p.351

Meanwhile, others contain or may have been ‘cooked’ in medicine to serve specific functions, such as protection. According to Curnow (in Plankensteiner 2007, p.351

), ‘visible medicine’ would also have acted as a visual message declaring the ritual powers of the wearer.

Ẹgba

). Meanwhile, others contain or may have been ‘cooked’ in medicine to serve specific functions, such as protection. According to Curnow (in Plankensteiner 2007, p.351

Bracelet

Germany

Website

Online Catalogue

Photographic collection

Museum Fünf Kontinente, Staatliche Museen in Bayern

Internal Data (ger)

Maschmann, Wilhelm Albert

Intermediary

Dealer

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primitive

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Digital Benin linked field	Institution field	Value
object id	Inventarnr	98-50
designation	Objektbezeichnung, Titel	Armband
material	Material	Kupferlegierung
dimensions	Maße/Breite
dimensions	Maße/Durchmesser	9,5 cm
dimensions	Maße/Höhe	2,5 cm
dimensions	Maße/Länge
dimensions	Maße/Objektmaß
dimensions	Maße/Tiefe
weight	Gewicht
date made	Datierung	17. – 19. Jh.
production place	Herkunft	Benin Reich (Historische Region) (Afrika/Nigeria)
prior source	Beteiligte Personen/SammlerIn
prior source	Beteiligte Personen/VorbesitzerIn	Maschmann, Albert; Hamburg
provenance	Provenance	vorh. 1955, vorh. Juli 2013
accession date	Eingangsdatum	1898
accession method	Erwerbungsart / Verbleib	Kauf
license	Copyright	Museum Fünf Kontinente, Nicolai Kästner (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
	Beteiligte Personen/UrheberIn	Unbekannt

Ẹyo Otọ

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