Replacement catalogue card [copied from register] notes: "The lid of a wooden CASKET, shaped like a much conventionalised animal's head with large flat ears, the carved ring-like horns supported by a couple of round knobs (?the eyes) and a leopard. The wood is coated with thin brass plates, bearing elaborate patterns in repousse. When reversed it forms an independent vessel with pear-shaped basin, the ring-like horns acting as stands."
Container carved in the shape of an animal's head, possibly a bush cow or water buffalo, with highly curved horns. Covered with thin copper alloy plates, covered with repousse line and stamped decoration. Two projecting ears, one now detached but present.
The leopard mentioned in the card description may refer to the figure on the rear of the horns, but which is now damaged and missing
The detached leopard became numbered separately as Z 25695 as was noted as 'Animal (feline, possibly a leopard) covered with small sheets of thin brass. (The legs are broken off and missing).
The detached leopard became numbered as Z 25695 and was noted as 'Animal appears to be cat-like with small squares and rectangles of brass punched out of the main sheets to represent spots or markings'.
The lid of a wooden casket, in the shape of an animal's head (?bush cow/water buffalo) with highly curved horns. Covered with thin copper alloy plates, decorated with repousse. Can be used as a container when placed the other way up.
Given Webster's acquisition of much of the spoils of the Benin West Africa 1897 Expedition and the early date of 1902-3, it is likely his personal donation of Benin material was also collected on the 1897 Punitive Expedition This has therefore been added to the source field with queries to indicate the lack of available data for a definite provenance.
The note created during transcription of the catalogue card in 2001 added that it was unclear if 'Edo is the province or language group, and whether Benin refers to the city of Benin'. The Register noted only 'Benin, West Africa'. As the catalogue card was written before the creation of Edo State in 1991, 'Edo' would have referred to the Edo people and has been removed from the place field.
The narrow term 'Benin' has been used within the museum and more widely to refer to the both Benin City as well as the Kingdom of Benin and both terms have therefore been added to the place field in brackets to show the original provenance e.g., 'Benin [?Kingdom of Benin; ?Benin City].
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902 E 455 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / The LID of a wooden CASKET, shaped like a much conventionalised animal's head, with large flat ears, the curved ring-like horns supported by a couple of round knobs (?the eyes) and a leopard. The wood is coated with thin brass plates bearing elaborate patterns in repousse. When reversed it forms an independent vessel with pear-shaped basin, the ring-like horns acting as stands. (8" x 4")
(see Pitt Rivers Fig No 336) / Benin W. Africa / Mr W.D. Webster | R. 1903 269"
Red circular sticker on bottom right of card.
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "Z 25695 | AFRICA | S. NIGERIA / BENIN? / Small animal covered with small sheets of thin brass. (The legs are broken)"
Red circular sticker on bottom right of catalogue card.