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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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

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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

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Context (Display)
Exhibited: On display in the free-standing Benin cube case, Maudslay Gallery, CUMAA, 1990-2011.
Label text noted:
'1 Commemorative Head
Cast in bronze.
Benin
S. Nigeria
Taken 1897 by the Benin Expedition.
Purchased: Stevens
d. A. A. Bevan
E.1902.95'
Event Date 1990
Author: Katrina Dring

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

Event Date 2/6/2000
Author: maa

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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

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Context (References)
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, p. 32, 51, no. 260.
Event Date 31/3/2016
Author: Remke Velden

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Context (Field collection)
Collected on the 1897 Punitive Expedition. The source field was updated accordingly
Event Date 26/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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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

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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 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

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Context (Amendments / updates)
The phrase 'British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin' has been added to the source field based on the recommendations of Digital Benin. This explicitly links the object to the capture of Benin City by British Navy Forces and members of the Nigerian Coast Protectorate Forces on 18 February 1897.
The queries have been removed.
(https://digitalbenin.org/provenance/139; accessed 10.3.2023)

Event Date 27/3/2023
Author: rachel hand

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Context (Amendments / updates)
One of 17 objects on loan to MAA from National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Nigeria for exhibition and study purposes, until January 2029.
Event Date 27/1/2026
Author: Rachel Hand

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Context (Other owners)
In July 2022, the University of Cambridge agreed to repatriate 116 artefacts, including this object, taken from Benin City by the British military in February 1897. A legal transfer of ownership to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria, took place on 27 January 2026. The source field has been updated accordingly
Event Date 27/1/2026
Author: Jan-Henrik Hartung

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Context (Display)
New free-standing yellow label added to the display case in February 2026 which noted:
‘In July 2022, the University of Cambridge agreed to repatriate 116 artefacts taken from Ben in city by the British military in February 1897. Arrangements are being made to physically return the collection. This artefact is on loan from the National Commission of museums and monuments, Nigeria’.
Event Date 1/2/2026
Author: Rachel Hand