Catalogue card notes: "A finely cast human head of bronze with features (?tusk stand) having a reticulated headdress with rosettes of coral or agate and a coral choker. (Badge of rank). Bands of coral and plaited hair hang on both sides of the ears. The eyes have iron pupils and there are three tribalmarks over each. Benin West Africa 1897 Expedition
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 *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.
'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.
(Bib) Ebin, Victoria and D. A. Swallow. The proper study of mankind: great anthropological collections in Cambridge, Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Fitzwilliam Museum, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 1984. Pg 32.
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902. E 95 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / A finely cast HUMAN HEAD of bronze with features (?tusk stand) having a reticulated headdress with rosettes of coral or agates and a coral choker (badge of rank). Bands of coral and plaited hair hang on both sides of the ears. The eyes have iron pupils and there are three tribalmarks over each. H. 9.2" / Benin West Africa 1897 Expedition/ Purchased Stevens / Professor Bevan's donation | R 1902.254"
Stamped in blue ink: "Centenary Exhibition"
Red circular stickers in top and bottom right corners of card.
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: 76.85%; Zn: 14.79%; Sn: 0.73%; Pb: 6.22%. 2) Cu: 78.11%; Zn: 14.14%; Sn: 0.77%; Pb: 5.57%. IT was noted this object was Dark 3, Willett 4. It was dated mid 16th century to early 17th century according to the Dark number and this is consistent with the chemistry. It is possibly contemporary with most plaques.
Analysis/1
Archaeology
Auction - Sale/0
Catalogue card reads "Purchased Stevens, Professor Bevan's donation"
Auction - Sale/1
CMS Context/0
CMS Description
Catalogue
Display/0
Part of MAA's Centenary Exhibition, held in the Adeane gallery, at the Fitzwilliam Museum, 12 March- 6 May 1984, and the Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts, Norwich, 2 July- 16 September 1984
Display/1
Exhibited: On display in Maudsley Gallery, CUMAA, from 1990.