Accession No

E 1902.430


Description

Ikoro. Arm cuff or wrist band. Tubular bracelet in repousse with diamond pattern, the rims bound with a scalloped band. (Bronze or brass).


Place

Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; [Kingdom of Benin]; Edo State; Benin City


Period


Source

National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria [owner and lender]; British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin [collector]; Webster, William Downing [donor]


Department

Anth


Reference Numbers

E 1902.430; MAA: A.R. 1903.231; W. 13700 (Webster no. from Accession Register)


Cultural Affliation

Edo


Material

Metal; Copper Alloy; ?Brass; ?Bronze


Local Term

Ikoro [Edo]


Measurements

80mm x 125mm x 95mm Weight 0.12kg


Events

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "Tubular bracelet in repousse with diapered [?sic - diamond] pattern, the rims bound with a scalloped band. (Bronze or brass)."

Event Date 6/6/2000
Author: maa


Description (Physical description)
Misshapen, white accretions, metal fragile and becoming detached at joint. [T.Cotterill]
Event Date 15/5/2001
Author: Katrina Dring


Description (Labels & Markings)
Webster no. '13700' written on the object in white
Event Date 16/3/2016
Author: Rachel Hand


Context (Amendments / updates)
Given Webster's acquisition of much of the spoils of the Benin West Africa 1897 Expedition, and the early date of 1902-3, it is likely his personal donation of Benin material was also collected on the 1897 Punitive Expedition. This has therefore been added to the source field with queries to indicate the lack of available data for a definite provenance.

The note created during transcription of the catalogue card in 2001 added that it was unclear if 'Edo is the province or language group, and whether Benin refers to the city of Benin'. The Register noted only 'Benin, West Africa'. As the catalogue card was written before the creation of Edo State in 1991, 'Edo' would have referred to the Edo people and has been removed from the place field.

The narrow term 'Benin' has been used within the museum and more widely to refer to the both Benin City as well as the Kingdom of Benin and both terms have therefore been added to the place field in brackets to show the original provenance e.g., 'Benin [?Kingdom of Benin; ?Benin City].
Event Date 2/10/2018
Author: rachel hand


Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads: "1902 E 430 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / Tubular BRACELET in repousse with diapered pattern the rims bound with a scalloped band. (bronze or brass) / Benin W. Africa / Mr W.D. Webster. | R 1903 231"

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


Context (Amendments / updates)
Photograph attached to rear of catalogue card.
Event Date 24/8/2020
Author: Katrina Dring


Description (Labels & Markings)
A white label, with blue biro ink writing, that was adhered to the internal surface has come off. The label reads '1902 E 430 / Tubular metal bracelet / BENIN, S. NIGERIA.'
Event Date 28/7/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie


Description (Labels & Markings)
The accession number is marked in white on the object.
Event Date 30/9/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie


Context (Other)
One of 99 objects on deposit from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Nigeria (pending a physical return to Nigeria).
Event Date 27/1/2026
Author: Jan-Henrik Hartung


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


FM:128067

Images (Click to view full size):