Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902. E 95 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / A finely cast HUMAN HEAD of bronze with negro features (?tusk stand) having a reticulated headdress with rosettes of coral or agates and a coral choker (badge of rank). Bands of coral and plaited hair hang on both sides of the ears. The eyes have iron pupils and there are three tribal marks over each. H. 9.2" / Benin West Africa 1897 Expedition / Purchased Stevens / Professor Bevan's donation | R 1902.254"

Stamped in blue ink: "Centenary Exhibition"

Red circular stickers in top and bottom right corners of card.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

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Event Date
Author: rachel hand

Description (Labels & Markings)
Old museum paper label adhered to the rear of the head notes '1902.95/ ?Tusk stand/ Benin West Africa/ *Prof. Bevan.'
Event Date 1902
Author: rachel hand

Context (Display)
Part of MAA's Centenary Exhibition, held in the Adeane gallery, at the Fitzwilliam Museum, 12 March- 6 May 1984, and the Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts, Norwich, 2 July- 16 September 1984
Event Date 12/3/1984
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Display)
Exhibited: On display in Maudsley Gallery, CUMAA, from 1990.
Event Date 1990
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "A finely cast human head of bronze with negro features (?tusk stand) having a reticulated headdress with rosettes of coral or agate and a coral choker. (Badge of rank). Bands of coral and plaited hair hang on both sides of the ears. The eyes have iron pupils and there are three tribal marks over each. Benin West Africa 1897 Expedition"
Event Date 2/6/2000
Author: maa

Context (Auction / Sale)
Catalogue card reads "Purchased Stevens, Professor Bevan's donation"

Event Date 2/6/2000
Author: maa

Context (References)
(Bib) Ebin, Victoria and D. A. Swallow. The proper study of mankind: great anthropological collections in Cambridge, Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Fitzwilliam Museum, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 1984. Pg 32.
Event Date 31/3/2016
Author: Remke Velden

Context (Field collection)
Collected on the 1897 Punitive Expedition.
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 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: 76.85%; Zn: 14.79%; Sn: 0.73%; Pb: 6.22%. 2) Cu: 78.11%; Zn: 14.14%; Sn: 0.77%; Pb: 5.57%. IT was noted this object was Dark 3, Willett 4. It was dated mid 16th century to early 17th century according to the Dark number and this is consistent with the chemistry. It is possibly contemporary with most plaques.
Event Date 27/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Context (Amendments / updates)
E 1902.94- 115 are recorded in the Accession Register as acquired on the 'Benin, West Africa 1897 Expedition’ indicating they formed part of the spoils taken during the looting of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi’s royal palace by British troops led by Admiral Sir Henry Rawson. This punitive expedition was a response to the ambush of a British party led by Acting Consul General James Philips which had sought to enter Benin City during Ague (Igue), the new year festival of renewal, against the wishes of the Oba.

E 1902.93- 115 are annotated in the Register as 'B. Stevens *Prof Bevan' indicating they were purchased at an undated 1902 auction at J.C. Stevens saleroom, 38 King Street Covent Garden, London, with money donated to the Museum’s Accessions Fund by Prof. Anthony Ashley Bevan.

Event Date 30/5/2019
Author: rachel hand