Emwiegbe describes ornaments worn on the body or attached to ceremonial regalia. Although Emwiegbe is used to collectively describe these objects in Edo, in English the terms charm and ornament are used.

Emwiegbe

Ighẹghan (crotal bells) are small bells mostly attached to objects such as arm cuffs and bracelets, and sometimes pendant masks or pendant plaques. Ighẹghan were produced by the Igun-Eronmwon.

Ighẹghan, sometimes also described as ‘pellet’ or ‘hawk’ bells, are typically spherical in form, and often measure less than 2 cm in diameter. They are cast in brass or bronze with a slit opening and a small pellet inside. Included here are a small number of longer narrow pendants with a crotal bell at the bottom (Norbong, 1992, p.47-8

Ighẹghan

A variety of small charms are among the holdings of Benin objects. Some are carved from ivory, others are cast in brass, some are also small bells, while others may have been used as small flasks to hold substances. Some of these pendants may once have been part of other objects, possibly pendant plaques, pendant masks, bracelets, armlets or neck ornaments.

Charm

Crotal Bell

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The British Museum’s archives are held in various locations across the institution. The items listed here aim to give an overview of the main locations where relevant archival and photographic material relating to objects from the Kingdom of Benin is housed. Key areas relevant for cultural objects from the Kingdom of Benin are: Corporate Archives; Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas archives; Department of Britain, Europe and Prehistory archives; and the Anthropology Library and Research Centre.

Website

Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas 

Online Catalogue

Library & Archive

British Museum

Internal Data (eng)

Oldman, Dorothy K. 

Collector

Dealer

Wikidata Link

Oldman, William Ockelford 

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