Ẹkpẹtin describes boxes of different shapes and sizes used as storage for different articles. They were usually carved from wood by members of the Igbesamwan and designed with different relief patterns of animal and human figures. Some may also have been used as stools.

Ẹkpẹtin are one of two types of boxes identified here – the second are the cylindrical 

. Ẹkpẹtin is used more generally to describe other kinds of boxes in a variety of sizes, shapes and materials. Although some may have been utilitarian, a number had ceremonial and ritual significance, indicated by their highly decorated exteriors.

Ẹkpẹtin

Boxes in a variety of sizes, shapes and materials are part of the arts of the Benin royal court. Although some may have been utilitarian, a number had ceremonial and ritual significance. Most are identified as Ẹkpẹtin in Edo. The depiction of certain kinds, such as the distinctive cylindrical lidded Ẹkpoki, which are seen being held by members of the royal court on relief plaques and altar tableaux, illustrate the ceremonial importance of the boxes made by the leather workers guild, which were sometimes covered with decorated brass sheeting. According to Ben-Amos (1995, p.108

), these boxes would be used to bring gifts to the Ọba towards the end of the Ague festival. Rectangular carved wooden boxes, carved antelope-head boxes (sometimes embellished with brass sheeting), brass boxes in the form of animals and oval carved-ivory boxes are also within the spectrum of the arts of the royal court.

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Russell Davies, R. H. 

Donor

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British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin, February 1897

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Digital Benin linked field	Institution field	Value
object id	Acc/ID Number	WA503004
designation	Object Name	Box
description	Description	IN FORM OF A MUD FISH. BODY AND HEAD OF FISH CARVED WITH INCISED PATTERNS. MOST OF THE BODY IN DIAMOND PATTERN. SMALL CAVITY IN BLACK WITH LOOSE LID.
description	Description/Acquisition Overview	Wooden casket, in form of fish, from Benin City. The body and head of the fish covered with incised patterns.(c) Purchased for the sum of 20/. at meeting of the Museum Committee, 24 April 1914. £0:20:0. Mr G Russell Davies was killed by a German shell in France, 19th October, 1916" (Brighton Acc Reg C). His mother was Mrs R H Russell Davies, who donated items on his bequest.
material	Materials	Wood
dimensions	Measurements	0890/0088/0077
object type	Record Type	Core
date made	Date Created
production place	Place Created	BENIN; NIGERIA; AFRICA WEST
prior source	Credit Line
prior source	Donor	Mrr R H Russell Davies, 30 Buckingham Place, Brighton.
provenance	Collector
provenance	Object (hi)story
date collected	Date Collected
place collected	Place Collected
ethnic attribution	Cultural Grp	EDO; BINI
department and institution	Department	World Art
accession date	Acquistion date	4/24/14
notes	New research info 2022
exhibition history	Ext Exhib History
legal status	Legal Status	PERMANENT COLLECTION
	Creator
	Documentation Issues
	History file contents
	Loan Allowed?
	Other no.	R1494

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