Physical description/0description Round wooden box with lid covered with brass plates leaving elaborate patterns in repousse. For king's use.
Physical description/1description Some areas of brass plate are missing. 3 cracks in wood from rim to base. [R.Hand]
Physical description/2description A deep, circular box and lid with decorated copper alloy plates attached. The box has a flat top and bottom, with a circular knob handle on the lid set on top of a rectangular copper alloy decoration. The copper alloy is attached with staples and consists of circles, crescents and strips stamped with decorations including simple knotwork, arcs, chevrons and crosses. There are two cracks in the base and the lid and a small section of the base rim is missing. The copper alloy decoration has torn away in places, especially on the handle, and some of the edges are jagged. Some bronze disease present.
d_Description Namedescription A deep, circular box and lid with decorated copper alloy plates attached. The box has a flat top and bottom, with a circular knob handle on the lid set on top of a rectangular copper alloy decoration. The copper alloy is attached with staples and consists of circles, crescents and strips stamped with decorations including simple knotwork, arcs, chevrons and crosses.
Labels - Markings/0inscriptions The number '90' has been written on the left side of the Thomas Collection label. This is not a Thomas Collection number.
Labels - Markings/1inscriptions Thomas label adhered inside lid reads: '90 / Box, round with metal ornamentation.'
Labels - Markings/2inscriptions In pencil written on inside of lid: 'NWT' and '/5'
Another number has been scribbled out, possibly '49'
Labels - Markings/3inscriptions Written in pencil inside base: 'NWT / for King's use'
Another number has been scribbled out, possibly '49'
Labels - Markings/4inscriptions There is a darker, rectangular patch on the base from the removal of a label. The label is not stored with the object.
Labels - Markings/5inscriptions Written in pencil on top of the lid and scribbled out: '25' or '251'
Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; Edo State; Benin City
Thomas, Northcote Whitridge [field collector]; Bevan, Anthony Ashley (Prof.) [monetary donor]
Amendments - updates/0notes Record updated as part of the Museum Affordances project 2018-2020
Amendments - updates/1notes It seems likely that Z 12057, which is currently listed as missing, is Z 25665.1-2. The number 49 and the comment 'for king's use', written in pencil on Z 24665.1-2, links the two records together. Although Z 12057 was originally described as a plate with no mention of a lid, several 'plates' in the Thomas collection take the form of a shallow wooden dish with a lid.
Z 12057 is listed in Thomas' 1st Catalogue (Thomas number 49), on the catalogue card and in the Accession register as: 'Plate (king's).' There is no further information about its materials or form. It is noted in the Accession register and on the database as missing.
Z 25665.1-2 is listed in the Accession register as: 'Wooden bowl decorated with brass plates', and the catalogue card also describes it as such, mentioning that it is 'for king's use'. The object itself is a round, shallow, wooden vessel with a lid, decorated with brass plates. There are several numbers written on it in pencil, including the number 49 which seems to have been scribbled out.
Amendments - updates/2notes Photograph attached to rear of catalogue card.
Amendments - updates/3notes Amendments - updates/4notes Reference Numbersbibliography Z 25665.1-2
MAA: Z 12057 [possible duplicate]
Other: 49 [Thomas Collection number - 1st Catalogue]; 90 [left of Thomas label]; ?25; 15
Related Documents/0bibliography See E 1910.118 and E 1913.3 records for further details about the Thomas Collection from Nigeria. [T.Cotterill]
Related Documents/1bibliography 1st Thomas Catalogue notes numbers 1-249 as "Bini (Benin City)". [R.Hand 31/5/2001]
Related Documents/2bibliography Accession Register entry reads: 'Wooden bowl decorated with brass plates | [no donor] | AFRICA | S. Nigeria, Benin.'
Related Documents/3bibliography Catalogue card reads: 'Z 25665 | AFRICA | S. NIGERIA / BENIN / 90 / Round Wooden box with lid covered with brass plates leaving elaborate patterns in repoussé. For king's use. / cf. Benin 1902 E 455 (for comparison of technique of adding brass plates as decoration) / N.W. THOMAS COLL.'
Colour photograph on rear of catalogue card labelled '[2001].42'
Related Documents/4bibliography Catalogue card read, in blue biro: "Z 25665 | AFRICA | S. NIGERIA / BENIN / 90 / Round Wooden bowl covered with brass plates having elaborate patterns in repousse. For king's use. / cf. Benin 1902 E 455 / (for comparison of technique of adding brass places as decoration) / N.W. THOMAS COLL."
In second hand, blue biro: ["bowl" amended to "box"] "with lid"
Pencil note: "May be Z 12057 / KMD 18/10/18"
Red circular sticker in bottom right of card.
Found_together - assemblage Cf Benin E 1902.455 (for comparison of technique of adding brass plates as decoration)