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Throne stool of the Oba Eresoyen

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Modelled on the Esigies throne stool from the 16th century, Eresoyen's throne represents Benin's view of the world. An intertwined python connects the world of the divine order of civilisation (the seat) with that of nature (the base). The sun, moon and cross on the seat symbolise the creation of the cosmic order. Ceremonial swords symbolise the power of the king in this order. The blacksmith's tools depicted in the centre, anvil, bellows, tongs and hammer, symbolise civilisation. The world of nature at the base shows motifs of the forest, such as the monkeys used as sacrificial animals and the "trunk hand", an elephant's trunk that ends in a hand holding leaves. It symbolises the occult power of Osun that exists in the plants. The sculptural frogs and the carved Portuguese heads refer to the water, the world of the sea god Olokun.

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Cataloguing data

Object type
Throne
Dimensions
Weight: 96,3 kg
Height: 40 cm
Width: 40,5 cm
Depth: 40,5 cm
Material/Technique
Brass, copper alloy
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
III C 20295

Provenance and sources

  • Production
    where
    Benin [kingdom]
  • Production
    when
    1735-1750
    where
    Nigeria
    Benin
  • Collecting
    who
    Theodor Glücksmann - Former Possessors
  • Change of legal title:
    Acquisition
    Description
    Restituted to the NCMM in 2022
  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    Africa

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED

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