Double Bell (Ẹgogo)
Edo
1 of 6
Object Label
Elephant ivory ornaments and ceremonial objects are among the most prized possessions in the court of the oba (or king) of Benin. Ivory is valued because the elephant is associated with the "king of the forest" in Bini thought and, traditionally, one tusk from every elephant killed in the kingdom was given to the oba. The white color of ivory was also associated with purity and with Olokun, the god of the sea, who is the oba's equivalent in the spirit world.
Ivory gongs are still carried by the oba on occasions such as the Emobo ceremony, in which the oba annually purifies and strengthens the nation by striking the gong to drive off malevolent spirits. The gong is struck with an ivory wand, but since it makes only a soft, dull sound, a royal retainer walks behind and strikes an iron gong as well.
Ivory gongs are still carried by the oba on occasions such as the Emobo ceremony, in which the oba annually purifies and strengthens the nation by striking the gong to drive off malevolent spirits. The gong is struck with an ivory wand, but since it makes only a soft, dull sound, a royal retainer walks behind and strikes an iron gong as well.
Caption
Edo. Double Bell (Ẹgogo), early 16th century. Ivory, 14 1/8 × 3 15/16 × 2 9/16 in. (35.8 × 10 × 6.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, A. Augustus Healy Fund and Frank L. Babbott Fund, 58.160. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Double Bell (Ẹgogo)
Date
early 16th century
Geography
Place made: Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Medium
Ivory
Classification
Dimensions
14 1/8 × 3 15/16 × 2 9/16 in. (35.8 × 10 × 6.5 cm)
Inscriptions
Written in black ink on inside of bell: "BENIN. BT. OF MR H. LING ROTH. 1898."; written in red ink on inside of bell: "58.160"
Credit Line
A. Augustus Healy Fund and Frank L. Babbott Fund
Accession Number
58.160
Frequent Art Questions
How did they discover this?
Many pieces from Benin were acquired by colonial powers, so Britain or France. In later times, people would often travel to collect objects for Museums or to sell in European art markets. After leaving Nigeria this work first belonged to a Doctor in London (from 1897-98) and eventually made its way to the Brooklyn Museum in 1958.The Edo, who currently live in Nigeria and Benin, trace their ancestry to the Kingdom of Benin, which was a powerful state back during the 15th and 16th century.Was there resistance from the local communities about this?In some cases. Many objects did leave after Europeans started their colonies. In other cases, things would be sold by the communities if they were no longer of use.
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