Catalogue card for E 1902.97-99: 'Three human masks of brass with reticulated headdress (two decorated with rosettes, one open pattern), tribalmarking over the eyes and coral fronted bands. In one the pupils of the eyes are inlaid with iron.'
E 1902.93 - E 1902.115 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.
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902 E 97-99 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / Three human MASKS of brass with reticulated headdess (two decorated with rosettes, one open pattern), tribalmarking over he eyes and coral frontal beads. In one the pupils of the eyes are inlaid with iron. / 7" x 4.7", 7.2" x 4.4", 8" x 4.3" / Benin, West Africa 1897 Expedition / purchased Stevens / Professor Bevan's donation | R. 1903 256-258"
Red circular sticker in bottom right 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.
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E 1902.94 - E 1902.115 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.