1991.13.15

Cast brass armlet with raised design of European heads and mudfish.

Material of original: Brass Metal

Height: max 148,00 mm; Diameter: max 92,00 mm

Keyword: Arm Ornament; Keyword: Figure; Keyword: Fish Figure

1

Date made: 1680 - 1730

Africa -> Western Africa -> Nigeria, Benin

PRM source: Dumas-Egerton Trust, Field collector: Benin City Punitive Expedition, Field collector: George le Clerc Egerton

When collected:

-> Edo

Acquired: 1991

Documentation: : See RDF for lists and notes.

Research Notes: The Dumas-Egerton Collection, of which this is part, was examined by Hermione Waterfield of Christie's in May 1984; see 'Part of the Nigerian Art Collected by Admiral Sir George Le Cler[c] Egerton on the Benin Expedition of 1897 on Deposit at Maidstone Museum' (copy in RDF). The entry for this object reads: 'A Benin armlet cast with eight bands of alternating crossed paired mudfish and Portuguese heads with semi-circular hats, on a trailing foliage ground.' [JC 23 1 2002] Examined by Hermione Waterfield on 29 January 2002. In an e-mail (not kept) of 30 January to Jeremy Coote, she pointed out how items with gilding can be dated to 'the period of the revival, i.e. 1680-1730', and that this item belongs to that period. [JC 30 1 2002]

E

Class: Ornament; Class: Figure

Object

Related collection: Field diary and photocopy of relevant sections of the collector's personal diary in PRM MS collections.