E 1902.115

Catalogue card notes: "Weaving stick, heavy and square sided with rounded handle ending in a heavy knot with a collar. Benin West Africa 1897 Expedition."

Long split in wood. [T.Cadbury]

Loom sword, heavy and square sided with rounded handle ending in a heavy knot with a collar. Collected on the British Expedition to Benin City, 1897.

1120 mm

35 mm

The number '7298' is marked in white on the object.

A label that reads '1902.115 / Weaving stick / Benin, West Africa / *Professor Bevan'

The accession number is marked in white on the object.

Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; [Kingdom of Benin]; Edo State; Benin City; Oba's Palace

Benin Expedition [collector]; Stevens Auction Room [vendor]; Bevan, Anthony Ashley (Prof.) [monetary donor]

1897

Edo

1902

'Edo' is both a language and cultural group but the catalogue is presumed to have been using the term 'Edo as a cultural group. The term 'Benin' has been removed from the cultural group field. Today Benin City is the capital of Edo State and so 'Edo State' has been used in the place field.

E 1902.115 MAA: ?AR 1903.424

Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902 E 115 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / WEAVING STICK, heavy and square sided with rounded handle ending in a heavy know with a collar. / Benin, West Africa 1897 Expedition / purchased Stevens / Professor Bevan's donation | R 1903 424" Red circular sticker in bottom right corner of card.

Catalogue card reads "Purchased Stevens, Professor Bevan's donation"

E 1902.94- 115 are recorded in the Accession Register as acquired on the 'Benin, West Africa 1897 Expedition’ indicating they formed part of the spoils taken during the looting of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi’s royal palace by British troops led by Admiral Sir Henry Rawson. This punitive expedition was a response to the ambush of a British party led by Acting Consul General James Philips which had sought to enter Benin City during Ague (Igue), the new year festival of renewal, against the wishes of the Oba. E 1902.93- 115 are annotated in the Register as 'B. Stevens *Prof Bevan' indicating they were purchased at an undated 1902 auction at J.C. Stevens saleroom, 38 King Street Covent Garden, London, with money donated to the Museum’s Accessions Fund by Prof. Anthony Ashley Bevan.

Collected on the 1897 Punitive Expedition.