Accession book entry: : 'MISS MARY H. KINGSLEY. The following specimens chiefly collected by the late Miss Kingsley in W. Africa, were bequeathed by her to her brother Charles G. Kingsley, to be transferred to the Museum at his death. Mr. Kingsley generously surrendered his life interest in the specimens and presented them at once to the Museum, September 1900: The following bronzes from Benin city, taken during the punitive expeditionunder Admiral Rawson, February, 1897.... Brass morion-shaped head piece, very heavy, fluted and chased.; Card Catalogue entry: : No further information on the catalogue index cards. [CW 14 7 1997]; Documentation: : Note by Frank Willett in RDF; also letter from R. C. Woosnam-Savage of Glasgow Museum.; Written on object: : Bronze hat or Morion Benin City W. Africa Bequeathed Miss M.H. Kingsley 1900 [L.Ph 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 19/1/2005]
Research Notes: Related Documents File - Letter to Linda Mowat from Frank Willett (Consultant in African Art, Glasgow) dated 8 July 1991 regarding an enquiry to him about this object. He sought the advice of Robert Woosnam-Savage (Arms & Armour curator, Glasgow Museum & Art Gallery) who told him that this "was copied from a so-called Spanish morion but, as I suspected, it could not have been intended for war. It is much too heavy and all those he showed me had holes round the bottom of the conical section for the attachment of a lining and for ear flaps." Willett continues, "...the three channels in the front are also ridges inside which would have made it impossible to wear. I suppose that it was probably a prestige item, intended for placing on an altar like the Portuguese warriors as symbols of power. I suppose the helmets made the Portuguese less vulnerable to Benin weapons that their own head gear and so became perhaps a protective device in a wider sphere."
A letter to Frank Willett from Robert C. Woosnam-Savage, dated 5 August 1991, outlines his opinion, "...It is definitely one [a Spanish Morion], even down to reproducing the etched and engraved bands one sees on the original European models. The edge of the brim is interesting too, as this seems to reflect the borders known as 'roped' also often found on Morions. The grooves, as you suggest do indeed make it impossible to wear, and make it a piece ' of ritual significance', as we discussed!.." Included is a photocopy of illustrations of various 'Kettle-Hats and Morions' from Claude Blair's "European Armour" Batsford: London, 1958 (2nd ed. 1972)
A copy of the article 'Mary Kingsley' by Dorothy Middleton, part IV of The Lady Pioneers series in The Geographical Magazine, May 1962.
Archaological / Ethnographic
Archival documentation ID
Class
Class: Armour Weapon; Class: Clothing Headgear; Class: Ritual and Ceremonial