Ovazẹ
Description
Ovazẹ (anvils) are used today as chisels by members of the Igun-Eronmwon and Igbesanmwan to carve wood or split smaller pieces of wood. Despite the similarities in the ways they are used, Ovazẹ were identified separately from Afian (chisels) by members of the Igun-Eronwmon. In literature written by European scholars during the twentieth century (e.g. Dark, 1973), these objects were described as... Read more
Ovazẹ (anvils) are used today as chisels by members of the Igun-Eronmwon and Igbesanmwan to carve wood or split smaller pieces of wood. Despite the similarities in the ways they are used, Ovazẹ were identified separately from Afian (chisels) by members of the Igun-Eronwmon. In literature written by European scholars during the twentieth century (e.g. Dark, 1973), these objects were described as anvils, and they were part of the core assemblage of tools used by blacksmiths of the Igun-Ematon (Dark, 1973, p.55). It is possible that the ways these objects have been used has changed over time, or they were used differently by members of the Igun-Eronmwon and Igbesanmwan.
As with other tools, miniature Ovazẹ were also made for shrines. The ritual importance of blacksmithing tools is also reflected in objects associated with the rule of Ọba Eresonyen, which was a time in which the arts flourished in Benin City (Egharevba, 1968).
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3 objects
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