The shape of the eyes indicates that this is the work of an artist from Ijebu. The function of the object is less clear: it could be an arm cuff or a bowl stand, as can still be found on ancestral altars in this region today. According to Benin's oral tradition, the small Yoruba kingdom of Ijebu, located to the west of Benin, came under the influence of its powerful neighbour early on. Artists from Ijebu probably also worked for the king in Benin City. Human faces with bulging, slanted eyes are typical of Ijebu's style.