Emwiurhu
Description
Emwiurhu (neck ornament) is used to describe anything which is worn around the neck. These can be made from various materials like coral beads, bronze and brass. They would be used as decoration, or they may serve a ritual protective function. Coral bead necklaces would have marked the wearer’s high status. As noted by Von Luschan (1919), very few examples of complete necklaces made their... Read more
Emwiurhu (neck ornament) is used to describe anything which is worn around the neck. These can be made from various materials like coral beads, bronze and brass. They would be used as decoration, or they may serve a ritual protective function. Coral bead necklaces would have marked the wearer’s high status. As noted by Von Luschan (1919), very few examples of complete necklaces made their way into European collections after the 1897 invasion and looting. However, there are many beads in collections, which may have once been necklaces, bracelets or anklets. Other neck ornaments, such as chains with small charms or amulets attached, may have had medicinal or protective purposes for the wearer. The wide range of materials used to make these neck ornaments offers a tangible insight into the far-reaching connections of Benin Kingdom in the past – coral beads from the Mediterranean, red Ododo flannel fabric, and so on.
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