Single cast brass figure of the Oba of Benin and his wives. The Oba is seated on a bench holding a sword and smoking a pipe. Round his neck the coral emblem of his rank. A wife is seated on each side of him and three other wives in front of him: one on a folding stool, one holding his pipe and one apparently fanning him or holding shield. Some holes in base from casting process
39 Ethnographic specimens from Nigeria (see PDF 'R4689_Acc Register List') for all objects.
Accession register images; dmas_rgregb_1948_d04.tif and dmas_rgregb_1948_d11.tif and dmas_rgregb_1948_d12.tif.
Accession register (dmas_rgregb_1948_d11.tif) Brass figure of the Oba of Benin and his wives. The Oba is seated on a bench holding a sword and smoking a pipe. A wife is seated on each side of him and three other wives in front of him, one on a folding stool, one holding his pipe and one apparently fanning him. Height 5 1/4 inches. Benin, S.Nigeria
Information on donors Sir Charles & Lady Grey for Collection R4689
40 objects from West Africa, 26 from Benin, donated in 1948, donated by Lady Grey (Jessy Elizabeth), in Acc register says she is the wife of Sir Charles Grey.
They collected 40 objects in Nigeria and donated them in 1948, 24 of them these objects were collected in ‘Benin’ and cultural group listed as Edo/Bini.
Sir Charles George Grey Bart. Born Weymouth, Dorset 26/06/1880 -12/12/1957, 4th Baronet of Fallodon
Married Jessy Elizabeth Sutherland 1910 Kensington, London.
Studied in Medicine and became Senior medical officer in West Africa, was in Nigeria and then Cameroon, circa 1911 to 1916?
Both Charles and Jessy Grey died at Rodstone, Friars Oak. Charles12 December 1957 and Jessy 5 February 1966. Died sine prole.
Charles Grey was the son of Harry George Grey and Charlotte Cockburn Grey.
He left no heir so this brother Sir Harry Martin Grey, became 5th Baronet, of Fallodon.
The barony passed to a relative Sir Arthur Dysart Grey 7th baronet b.1949
And to his son Thomas Jasper Grey b.1998.