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Deity Irhevbu or Princess Edeleyo

The figure could represent the beloved wife of the deific hunter Ake from the 15th century, who is worshipped as the deity of archers. According to another interpretation, it depicts Princess Edeleyo, the first-born daughter of Oba Ewuare, who should have succeeded her brother, who was killed by a poisoned arrow, to the throne but died beforehand.

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Cataloguing data

Object type
Plastic (sculpture)
Dimensions
Height: 46,5 cm
Depth: 18,7 cm
Width: 22,6 cm
Weight: 10 kg
Material/Technique
Brass, copper alloy
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
III C 10864

Provenance and sources

  • Production
    where
    Benin [kingdom]
  • Production
    when
    17th century - 18th century
    where
    Nigeria
    Benin
  • Collecting
    who
    Meyer, Hans - Former Possessors
    William Downing Webster (1868-05-11 - 1913-01-14) - Collectors
  • Change of legal title:
    Acquisition
    Description
    17th century - 18th century, probably commissioned by the Igun Eronmwon or guild of brass casters in the Kingdom of Benin for an altar or shrine; location and ownership before 1897 in the Kingdom of Benin unclear; probably looted in connection with the British conquest of Benin, 1897; in unknown ownership after the conquest of the Kingdom of Benin; purchased by Hans Meyer from William D. Webster, 1899; exchanged with Hans Meyer, 1899.
  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    Africa

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED
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