Court attendant with ceremonial sword "eben" · Nigeria, Benin · ID: 3038732

Name: Court attendant with ceremonial sword "eben"
SKU: 3038732
Availability: Discontinued

not available anymore

Provenance

Consul General Robert Gedon (1909-1989), Berlin/Munich, Germany

Size

H: 26 cm

H: 10.2 inch

Description

bronze, wearing a broad collar of coral beads reaching nearly to the chin and long beaded necklaces on the breast, prominent headdress from beaded bands and diadem-like superstructure with thorn-like projecting coral beads at each side, skirt with belt and pendants, slightly dam., surface structure shows strong traces of corrosion, additional struts flanking the thin legs to carry the bodies weight, base;
the ceremonial sword “eben” was used for various ceremonies at court
and is a popular motif in Benin art. Dignitaries and chiefs raised the sword as a sign of their loyalty to the king. The “oba” himself danced with such a sword to honour the ancestors.

The object Court attendant with ceremonial sword “eben” with the object ID 3038732 was last part of the auction 81st Tribal Art Auction at October 31, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 311.

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