A hair ornament made in the shape of a long bar with 'T' shaped ends and inset with coral. The pin is perpendicular to the centre of the bar and there is a raised circular protrusion from the top, with a small piece of coral inset. There are sections of coral missing and the remaining resin used to stick it in place is visible. The pin is a little bent out of shape.
Kotine. A hair ornament made in the shape of a long bar with 'T' shaped ends and inset with coral. The pin is perpendicular to the centre of the bar and there is a raised circular protrusion from the top, with a small piece of coral inset. There are sections of coral missing and the remaining resin used to stick it in place is visible. The pin is a little bent out of shape.
An old hand written label reads 'Head ornament (Kotivie) used [by] kings' wives [and] daughters, and [by] rich people. Worn on top [of] head. Bini', and a '67' in the top left corner which has been circled. A second hand written label affixed to the original label reads 'N.W. 67 THOMAS COLL.' on one side and 'Z 12074 2 Hair ornaments BINI' on the other side.
Z 12074, [67], noted in black ink on an old brown paper label, ?in Thomas' hand, '67/ Head ornament (kotine) used by king's wives & daughters; and by rich people. Worn on top of head/ Bini'.
In January 2017, Prof. Marcos Martinon-Torres and Agnese Benzonelli, UCL Institute of Archaeology, tested this idno using a portable XRF as part of a programme of base metal analysis of Benin material. This object was tested once and the results are as follows: 1) Cu: 63.48%; Zn: 35.18%; Pb: 0.88%. It was noted with Zn reading of >35 and high Cd it could be dated to 1850+ at least.
Analysis/1
Archaeology
Auction - Sale/0
Auction - Sale/1
CMS Context/0
CMS Description
Hair ornament used by king's wives and daughters and by rich people; a long piece of brass inset with coral, with pin at right angles from centre
[different hand] There are two of these ornaments.
Catalogue
Numbered '67' in the Thomas Collection, 1st Catalogue.
Display/0
Exhibited: Loaned to the exhibition, 'Court Art of Benin' , Vienna, Berlin and Paris 2007-8