frame

The ownership of this object was transferred to Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in November 2022.

A carved wooden frame. Benin City. The frame is likely for holding an ughegbe (mirror). Ughegbe were used mainly by priests and are viewed as portals to see beyond the physical world. They would be covered when not in use to prevent entities from the spiritual world entering the physical world where they do not belong.

The frame is rectangular, with a carved figure on a horse sitting on the top. The figure holds a large sword in one hand. The other arm is missing. The frame has a sliding cover on the front, carved in relief with two birds. The cover has a tab on the side, allowing it to be pulled partway out. The wood has warped, so the cover cannot slide out completely. Made by Igbesanmwan guildmembers (ivory and wood carvers).

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
3478b
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 353 mm x 191 mm x 22 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
wood
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
LOCATION
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