Bronze bell of truncated-pyramid-shape; with raised cordons on edges, balls at corners, and incised diagonal lines on faces. One face has raised motif. Loop handle at top, elaborately shaped clapper with hole in it.
Bronze bell of truncated-pyramid-shape with raised cordons on edges, balls at corners, and incised diagonal lines on faces. One face has raised motif. Loop handle at top, elaborately shaped clapper with hole in it.
Catalogue card reads, in black ink: "Z. 21070 | W. AFRICA / Nigeria / Benin / Bronze bell of truncated-pyramid-shape; with raised cordons on edges, balls at corners, and incised diagonal lines on faces. One face has raised motif. Loop handle at top, elaborately shaped clapper with hole in it. No label, but very closely resembles bells known to come from Benin, e.g. 1902.E.436. / PTO [arrow]"
Red circular sticker in bottom right corner of card.
On rear of card: ink drawing of bell
No provenance noted, but very closely resembles bells known to come from Benin, e.g. E 1902.436
Analysis/1
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 twice and the results are as follows: 1) Cu: 71.28%; Zn: 27.53%; Sn: 0.07%; Pb: 0.79%. 2) Cu: 70.97%; Zn: 27.78%; Sn: 0.08%; Pb: 0.81%.
It was noted that bells vary in composition and thought not to be standardised bar a few exceptions they date to 1800+. It has been classed as Riederer alloy H2 and probably dates to the second half of the 19th century.