Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "A rattle staff of hard wood, cut in the solid to represent 5 joints, three decorated. The upper most section is decorated with carved vertical ribs and encircling bands and has three oblong openings through which the interior has been hollowed out as to leave a loose length of the original wood to form a rattle. The staff ends in a carved human face in a closely fitting cap, with notched tribal marks.
Event Date 4/6/2000
Author: maa

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Context (Auction / Sale)
Catalogue card reads "Benin West Africa 1897 Expedition." and "Purchased Stevens, Professor Bevan's donation"

Event Date 4/6/2000
Author: maa

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Context (Related Documents)
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.

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 9/10/2014
Author: Rachel Hand

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Context (Field collection)
Collected on the 1897 Punitive Expedition.
Event Date 26/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (Amendments / updates)
'Edo' is both a language and cultural group but the catalogue is presumed to have been using the term 'Edo as a cultural group. The term 'Benin' has been removed from the cultural group field.
Today Benin City is the capital of Edo State and so 'Edo State' has been used in the place field.
Event Date 30/5/2019
Author: rachel hand

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Description (Physical description)
A reddish patina in places appears to suggest the staff may have been overpainted/oiled in the past, though, the chipped areas are also a dark wood.
A number in white ink has been removed and is illegible, probably a sale number
Event Date 25/11/2020
Author: rachel hand

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Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902 E 111 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / A RATTLE STAFF of hard wood, cut in the solid to represent 5 joints, three decorated. The uppermost section is decorated with carved vertical ribs and encircling bands & has three oblong openings through which the interior has been so hollowed out as o leave a loose length of the original wood to form a rattle. The staff ends in a carved human face in a closely fitting cap, with notched tribal marks. / L.3' 10" / Benin, West Africa 1897 Expedition / Purchased Stevens / Professor Bevan's donation | R. 1903 420"

Red circular sticker in bottom right corner of card.
Event Date 24/8/2020
Author: Katrina Dring

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Description (Labels & Markings)
An old Museum label reads '1902.111 / Rattle - Staff. / Benin, West Africa / * Professor Bevan' is adhered to the surface.
Event Date 3/9/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

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Context (Amendments / updates)

Event Date 3/9/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

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Description (Labels & Markings)
A marking in white ink, no longer legible as it's partially erased, is on the middle section of the object.
Event Date 3/9/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

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Description (Labels & Markings)
The accession number is marked in white ink on the object.
Event Date 3/9/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

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Context (Amendments / updates)
'[Benin; Bini]' has been removed from the place field. 'Edo' is retained.
Event Date 3/9/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

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Conservation (Assessment Only)
CON.2022.5483 | Assessment Only
Event Date 2/11/2022
Author: Kirstie French

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Loan (Exhibition)
Fitzwilliam Museum (UCM), 25/7/2023 to 7/1/2024, Enslavement & Resistance: Cambridge & the Black Atlantic
Event Date 25/7/2023
Author: rachel hand