During the British Expeditionto Benin City (Edo) in 1897 objects made of brass, ivory, coral and wood were looted by British soldiers from the royal palace, its storerooms and compounds. Some of these objects were sold or exchanged on the coast. However, many were brought to the UK where they were sold through private auction, donated to museums, or retained by soldiers of the expedition See Collection File: Af1897,1217.1-6.
Waist pendant; lost-wax cast in brass. U-shaped in form with single large suspension loop at top. Depicts central female figure in relief. Figure wears coral bead ornaments, skirt and headdress, and holds mirror charm in right proper hand. Series of small loops around outer edge of pendant for susension of crotals or bells.
Read & Dalton 1899: Pendent ornament (?) formed of a half-oval plate of bronze edged with rings, and having in relief a female figure wearing a close cap of beadwork with long cheek-pieces and a crest line of radiating spikes. She has a stout neck ring of beads, a crossbelt, short petticoat, and anklets all apparently of beadwork. She holds up in the right hand a square platter-like object. At the back of the head is a large loop for suspension.