Salt-cellar of carved elephant ivory with two chambers, with Portuguese horsemen and other figures, carved by a Bini craftsman working to Portuguese specifications, with later replacement lid: West Africa, Nigeria, Edo State, Benin, 16th century
WEST AFRICA. SOUTHERN NIGERIA. BENIN. IVORY. SALT-CELLAR, made by Bini Craftsman. Afro-Portuguese, Benin 16th Century, Midwestern State, Nigeria. Elephant ivory carved in two stages, in the form of two spheres connected by a thin central column, around which are riding two Portuguese soldiers accompanied by a smaller European figure, and at the rear a nativeholding a branch. Wider World Gallery Label Text, 2001: Salt Cellar. Nigeria. Benin. Sixteenth Century. Elephant ivory salt cellar with two chambers (the lid of the upper one is missing), carved with Portuguese horsemen and other figures. This piece and the one next to it were carved by Bini craftsmen, working to Portuguese specifications. Curator note, 21 October 2010: Dimensions - 120 mm H x 120 mm W x 120 mm depth. || Further provenance for A.1950.3 prior to purchase from Sydney Burney, London dealer recorded in register in 1950 has not been established.