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. Others seem to have circulated in the years after the Expeditionwithin Nigeria and were subsequently acquired by British soldiers or colonial officials employed or resident there. The donor of this waist pendant was employed by the Forestry Department, Benin Province, Southern Nigeria and was based in Benin City from 1903. See Collection File: Af1908,1205.1-10.
Waist-pendant; lost-wax cast in brass. In form of flat leopard's head with overlapping fangs, bared teeth, three whiskers on either side of face, and leaf-shaped ears at top. Nose has cross-hatched panel. Eyes are slanting with inlaid pupils made of iron. Leopard's skin depicted by plain spots set against stippled background. Two suspension loops behind ears. Series of small suspension loops around edges of pendant to eye level.