key (locks & enclosures)

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

A key (isanrẹn). Benin City. Date unknown. Isanrẹn can be used to lock up rooms such as the aza emwin arhe. This is a vault or a storage room for valuables. This key is made of iron and brass and therefore would been made by the Igun-Eronmwon (bronze and brass casters) and the Igun-Ematon (blacksmiths) together.



The key has a chain attached (included in measurements) with seven links. The chain is attached to the key via a large circular handle. The key is large and thick, and is composed of a conical rod, with a flat long rectangle attached perpendicularly, with an additional flat piece of metal at a ninety degree angle attached.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
99.248
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 240 mm x 82 mm x 25 mm; overall: 300 mm x 60 mm x 10 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
brass; iron
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
LOCATION
SHAREABLE LINK

Continue exploring anthropology

Featured

Collection Information

These objects are only a part of our collections, of which there are more than 350,000 objects. This information comes from our collections database. Some of this is incomplete and there may be errors. This part of the website is also still under construction, so there may be some fields repeated or incorrectly formatted information.

The database retains language taken from historical documents to help research. Please note that some records may feature language and reflect systems of thinking that are outdated and offensive. The database also includes information on objects that are considered secret or sacred by some communities.

If you have any further information about objects in our collections, can suggest corrections to our information or if you see content requiring immediate action, please contact us: enquiry@horniman.ac.uk