Catalogue card notes: "A bronze cast of a human head with features with a circular opening (?tusk stand) having a pointed reticulated headdress of coral or agate and a coral choker. (Badge of rank). Bands of coral hang down on both sides in front of the ear, as well as round the back of the head. The projecting base bears an interlacing design with rope pattern beading. The eyes have iron pupils and three vertical ribs of iron start across the forehead from near the inner corner of the eyes. There are four tribalmarks over each eye. Benin West Africa 1897 Expedition
McKeating, Alison, D. W. Phillipson and Rachel Maclean. Metal In Africa. Cambridge: Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Cambridge University African Studies Centre, 1996. p.28
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902. E 94 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / A bronze cast of a human head with features with a circular opening (?tusk stand) having a pointer reticulated head dress of coral or agate and a coral choker. (Badge of rank) Branch of coral hand down on both sides in front of the ear, as well as round the back of the head. The projecting base bears an interlacing design with rope pattern beading. The eyes have iron pupils and three vertical [?ribs] of iron stand across the forehead from near the inner corner of the eyes. There are four tribalmarks over each eye. Benin, West Africa Expedition1897 / Mrs Walter Foster | H.16.5" / R. 1903. 253"
Red circular sticker in top right of card.
Accession Register names monetary donor as Mrs Walter Foster. This is Mrs Mary Hichens Foster, wife of antiquarian Walter Kidman Foster and benefactor to the University.
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Analysis/0
In January 2017, Prof. Marcos Martinon-Torres and Agnese Benzonelli, UCL Institute of Archaeology, tested this item using a portable XRF as part of a programme of base metal analysis of Benin material. This object was tested twice and the results are as follows: 1) Cu: 78.12%; Zn: 19.40%; Pb: 1.95%. 2) Cu: 78.20%; Zn: 19.28%; Pb: 1.98%. It was noted this object was classed as Dark 8, Willett 5. It was dated to post 1700 according to chemistry but possibly a bit earlier according to Dark number.
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Archaeology
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CMS Description
Catalogue
Display/0
Exhibited: on loan to Tate Britain for 'Artist and Empire', 23 November 2015- 10 April 2016. [R. vd. Velden]
Display/1
Exhibited: On display in the Benin cube case, Maudslay Gallery, CUMAA, 1990-2011.
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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 expeditionwas 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 *Mrs Walter Foster [Prof Bevan' is crossed out]' 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 Mrs Walter K. Foster who was a generous benefactor to the Museum, and had arranged the Walter K. Foster bequest of prehistoric and Anglo-Saxon material to the Museum.