Catalogue card reads, in blue ink: 50.267 A/B | Africa | Nigeria / Two bronze cocks. / A. ht. about 7 ins, a good specimen / B. [ht. about] 4 [ins], poor / Benin / F.W. Green bequest."
Red circular sticker on bottom right of card.
Given by Frederick William Green, Honorary Keeper of Antiquities at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (1908–1949). The majority of 'bronze' items such as these in museum collections were collected on the 1897 Punitive Expeditionto Benin. This is likely to be the origin of this work but there is no documentation on Green's acquisition.
The Webster sale number suggests it was sold by Bicester dealer William Webster at some stage probably between 1898- 1901, but the number has not yet been connected to a specific auction