Accession book entry: : Feb 2 Stevens Auction Rooms - Ground stone celt mounted in a socket of bronze, open-work with rings for suspension, it has been drenched in blood which forms a deposit over it, probably regarded as a thunderbolt and mounted thus as a potent fetish. Benin city, W. Africa Obtd at time of the punitive expedition... (dot 50) The two specimens 21/- PR fund petty cash.; Pitt Rivers Museum label: : [old] - '[C]elt mounted in bronze-work: a fetish, which has been drenched with sacrificial blood. The c[elt] was probably regarded as a thunderbolt. BENIN. Purch...1[90]1.' Handwritten in ink on card. This label has been made out of an old label, the partial text of which can be seen on the reverse. (Label in RDF.) [JC 10 9 2004]; Pitt Rivers Museum label: : [old] - Stuck-on label found on bottom of box that presumably formerly held this object but now contains 25 ancient agate beads (1909.94.19 - .43): 'Stone celt mounted in bronze work for suspension as a fetish. It has been drenched in sacrificial blood & the surface is caked with it. The neolithic celt was probably regarded as a thunder-bolt. Benin City, West Africa. Purch. 1901 (Stevens sale)' and (in a different hand) '1901.54.1'. [JC 3 8 2000]; Card Catalogue entry: : [?similar to accession book but says brass rather than bronze and that it is an amulet]. [?]; Written on object: : BENIN Purch: 1901 [L.Ph 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 24/1/2005]
Research Notes: Examined by Benin specialist Barbara Blackmun in July 1991. According to Blackmun, the openwork represents coral beadwork. It was probably worn as a charm. [LMM 7 1991 ?; JC 9 7 2000]