Photographed as part of the Art UK Sculpture project, August - September 2019. The project aims to create a free-to-access online photographic showcase of publicly owned sculpture. The three-year project focuses on sculpture dating from the last 1,000 years, held in public collections and outdoor locations across the UK
Catalogue card reads, in black biro: "Z 25551. | AFRICA | S. Nigeria / Benin / Bronze mask (~4 1/2" high) of leopard. (See Over) / The face is similar to that of the 2 ivory leopards in the Museum of Mankind, London."
Red circular sticker in bottom right of card.
On rear of card: pencil drawing of mask.
[The Museum of Mankind 1970-1997 is now the British Museum, London. Katrina Dring 27/08/2020]
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: 80.21%; Zn: 14.26%; Sn: 1.55%; Pb: 2.60%. 2) Cu: 80.10%; Zn: 14.28%; Sn: 1.59%; Pb: 2.63%. It was noted that with a moderate Zn reading and low but notable Sn and Pb readings, it is comparable to some of the plaques and thus possibly 1550-1610, though it could also be a random result of recycling.