Accession No
Z 12019
Description
Elo. A small bell with loop handle and clapper. The surface of the bell has a cross-hatch design and spiral element on one side. The clapper is suspended from a piece of wire hung through a hole in the top of the bell.
Place
Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; Edo State; Benin City
Period
Source
Thomas, Northcote Whitridge [field collector]; Bevan, Anthony Ashley (Prof.) [monetary donor]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
Z 12019; 12 [Thomas Collection number; 1st Catalogue]; 538 [left of Thomas label label]
Cultural Affliation
Edo
Material
Metal; Copper Alloy; ?Bronze; ?Iron
Local Term
elo
Measurements
37mm x 72mm x 37mm
Events
Description (Labels & Markings)
Thomas label (bagged) reads: '538 | Bini | 12 / Bell for ankle (elo), wrought iron.'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes : bell put on ankle, wrought iron
[different hand] ?bronze
Event Date
Author: maa
Description (Labels & Markings)
Luggage tag attached with string reads: '12 | Bell (ėlo) put on shrine of father or mother; rung at time of sacrifice / Bini'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Context (CMS Context)
1st Thomas Catalogue notes numbers 1-249 as "Bini (Benin City)". [R.Hand]
Event Date 31/5/2001
Author: maa
Context (Related Documents)
See E 1910.118 and E 1913.3 records for further details about the Thomas Collection from Nigeria. [T.Cotterill]
Event Date 7/5/2001
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Labels & Markings)
The number '12' has been written on the top right of the Thomas Collection label tied to object. The number '538' has been written on the top left of the Thomas Collection label tied to object.
Event Date 26/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson
Context (Analysis)
In January 2017, Prof. Marcos Martinon-Torres and Agnese Benzonelli, UCL Institute of Archaeology, tested this idno using a portable XRF as part of a programme of base metal analysis of Benin material. This object was tested twice and the results are as follows: 1) Cu: 73.74%; Zn: 24.22%; Sn: 0.25%; Pb: 1.23%. 2) Cu: 73.77%; Zn: 24.29%; Sn: 0.25%; Pb: 1.26%. It was noted that bells vary in composition and thought not to be standardised and bar a few examples are dated 1800+. It is classed and Riederer alloy H2 and probably from the second half of the 19th century.
Event Date 27/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson
Description (Physical description)
Small copper alloy bell with loop handle and clapper. The surface of the bell has a cross-hatch design and spiral element on one side. The clapper is suspended from a piece of wire hung through a hole in the top of the bell.
Event Date 5/9/2018
Author: Katrina Dring
Context (Amendments / updates)
Record updated as part of the Museum Affordances project 2018-2020
Event Date 5/9/2018
Author: Katrina Dring
FM:125216
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