Amendments - updates/1notes The record previously gave Northcote Thomas as the source as the Z number register was incorrectly read. However, only the previous entry, Z 25661, is attributed to Thomas. The record has been updated and reconnected to the Beldam deposit and bequest.
Related Documents/0bibliography Catalogue card for D 1921.199 B reads in black ink: Dep.21.B.1999. / Currency. / from Benin. / Beldam Collection."
In second hand, red biro, top right corner: "Nigeria"
Stamped in black ink: "BEQUEA[TH] / 1947"
The Beldam Collection, placed on Deposit in 1921, was Bequeathed and formally transferred to MAA in 1947.
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: 77.74%; Sn: 0.71%; Pb: 17.58%. 2) Cu: 78.78%; Sn: 0.72%; Pb: 16.78.
It was noted as being leaded copper, with no Zn. Other manillas analysed previously, at MAA and elsewhere, tend to be either unalloyed copper, or leaded copper like this one (and indeed the high Sb has been found by Craddock in other manillas). As such, bar for very few exceptions, you would not be able to make any of the 'classic' Benin bronzes/brasses by melting and casting manillas. Either there is a chronological mismatch, or manillas were used for something else (or systematically remelted together with brasses).
Exhibited: Previously displayed in drawer A, under the Africa case, Maudslay Hall, CUMAA, 2001.