Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1900 E. 98 (2) | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / A HEAD (larger than life) of a native noble showing the tribal mark scars of the Bini, wearing a helmet and various ornaments. Height 15"8. Fine bronze casting by the 'cire perdue' process of the end of the XVI century / Benin City / F.J.H. Jenkinson | R1901. 495a"

Red circular sticker in bottom right corner of card.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Field collection)
Presumed taken from the palace of Oba Ovọnramwẹn Nọgbaisi during the British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin, February 1897, as Webster became the pre-eminent dealer in looted Benin material

Event Date 2/1897
Author: rachel hand

Context (References)
Webster, W.D. (1899) Illustrated Catalogue of Ethnological Specimens. European and Eastern Arms and Armour. Prehistoric and Other Curiosities, Vol. 3, No. 18.

Illustrated on unnumbered plate, plate, figs. 52-64. No. 63 63. (6365) Do. Mask, 18 inches high (Benin). £35.0.0.

Event Date 1899
Author: rachel hand

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "A head (larger than life) of a native noble showing the tribal mark scars of the Bini, wearing a helmet and various ornaments. [...] Fine bronze casting by the 'cire perdue' process at the end of the XVI century. Benin City."
Event Date 1900
Author: maa

Context (Auction / Sale)
Purchased from W. D Webster in 1900 with money donated to the Museum's Accession Fund by Francis John Henry Jenkinson (1853-1923), University Librarian from 1889
See Webster Catalogue Number 18
Event Date 1900
Author: Rachel Hand

Context (Auction / Sale)
Annual Report notes that this item 'was purchased with Mr Jenkinson's donation to the Accessions Fund.'
Accession Register reads "B. Webster (Jenkinson) £35 See Webster Cat. No's 18. [No. 21 crossed out]"
Event Date 1900
Author: maa

Loan (Exhibition)
Tate Britain, London, 17/11/2015 to 18/04/2016, Artist & Empire
Event Date 17/11/2015
Author: rachel hand

Conservation (Surface Clean)
CON.2015.1769 | Surface Clean
Event Date 2/7/2015
Author: rah99

Description (Physical description)
A copper alloy head of an Oba.
A head of a native noble showing the tribal mark scars of the Bini, wearing a helmet and various ornaments.
Extremely heavy, take care when handling.
Event Date 7/12/2016
Author: maa

Context (Display)
Exhibited in the Open Storage display of Benin material in Andrews gallery (3rd from left), 19 July 2016, but moved to a stand-alone case, 20 March 2017, adjacent to the main display.
Event Date 19/7/2016
Author: rachel hand

Context (Analysis)
In January 2017, Prof. Marcos Martinon-Torres and Agnese Benzonelli, UCL Institute of Archaeology, tested this item 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: 69.73%; Zn: 27.55%; Sn: 0.03%; Pb; 2.21%. 2) Cu: 68.74%; Zn: 28.59%; Sn: 0.02%; Pb: 2.22%. It was noted as Dark 5, Willett 5. It is dated as post 1700 according to chemistry but post 1800 according to Dark.
Event Date 27/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson