arm-cuff
- Museum number
- Af1910,0513.3
- Title
- Series: Benin Ivory
- Description
-
Arm-cuff, one of a pair; made of ivory inlaid with copper. Formed of two inter-penetrating cylinders. Outer cylinder depicts repeating figures of Oba with mudfish legs, swinging crocodiles in each hand above head. Inner cylinder depicts twin elephant heads alternating with Oba figures.
- Production date
- 18thC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 13.50 centimetres
-
Width: 10.50 centimetres
-
Depth: 9.50 centimetres
- Curator's comments
-
This arm-cuff forms a pair with Af1910,0513.2.
-
This ivory armlet is worn by the Oba (king) of Benin in ceremonies in which he wears a coral costume, dances with a ceremonial sword and carries a gong. The armlet helps to prevent the coral beads from becoming entangled during the Oba's dance.
The Oba is represented on the armlet with mudfish legs and his hands raised to the sky, thus linking him with the great god Olokun, ruler of the sea. The mudfish has symbolic significance among the Edo people as it can live on land and sea. Similarly, the Oba is invested with divine powers from the spiritual world above and the secular world below.
P. Girshick Ben-Amos, The art of Benin (London, The British Museum Press, 1995)
- Location
- On display (G25/dc5)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1970-1973, London, Museum of Mankind, Divine Kingship in Africa
- Condition
- Good.
- Acquisition date
- 1910
- Acquisition notes
- Purchased (with Af1910,0513.1 & 2) by the Museum in 1910 from Dr (later Professor) Charles G Seligman. He was not an African specialist, but was a wealthy man.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1910,0513.3
