Context (Field collection)
Presumed to have been taken from the palace of Oba Ovọnramwẹn Nọgbaisi in Benin City during the 1897 Benin Expedition as Webster became the pre-eminent dealer in looted Benin material
Event Date 2/1897
Author: rachel hand

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Context (References)
cf. Pitt Rivers, A.H.L (1900) Antique Works of Art from Benin, (privately printed), Fig. 286

Event Date 1900
Author: Katrina Dring

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Context (Acquisition Details)
The Accession Registers record E 1902.428- 461 (AR 1902.229-275) as a donation of Benin objects by Webster.

The Eighteenth Annual Report of the Antiquarian Committee to the Senate (April 23, 1903) also records that 'A gap in the collections of the Museum has been filled by a series of twenty-two fine bronzes from Benin, which Mr W. D. Webster has generously presented to the University'.
Event Date 1902
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

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Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads (Bib) "Pitt Rivers' Benin Fig. 286 shows a man on a plaque holding a similar staff"

Event Date 1902
Author: maa

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Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "A staff of office: a cylindrical shaft decorated top and bottom with collars of double rope plait and guilloche pattern respectively and surmounted by a bird (?Ibis) standing with open wings."
Event Date 6/6/2000
Author: maa

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Context (References)
See Royal Art of Benin, Perl Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1992, pp.196-205, and P. Girshick Ben-Amos, The Art of Benin, The British Museum, 1995, pp.100-103, illustrating handheld clappers, depicting the bird of prophecy, used in Oro festival, (Ugie Oro). The bird's beak is struck by a metal rod. I have therefore added the terms clapper and music with queries.
Event Date 1/6/2001
Author: Katrina Dring

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Description (Physical description)
A staff of office surmounted the bird of prophecy, depicted as an ibis with outstretched wings, used in Oro festival, (Ugie Oro). The cylindrical shaft is decorated top and bottom with collars of double rope plait and guilloche pattern respectively
Event Date 8/3/2016
Author: Rachel Hand

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Description (Labels & Markings)
The number 'W. 9782' has been written on the object.
Event Date 23/1/2017
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 idno using a portable XRF as part of a programme of base metal analysis of Benin material. Results were inconclusive
Event Date 27/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (Amendments / updates)
The Register noted only 'Benin, West Africa'. 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
Event Date 2/10/2018
Author: rachel hand

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

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Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902 E 439 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / A STAFF of office: a cylindrical shaft decorated top and bottom with collars of double rope plait and guilloche pattern respectively and surmounted by a bird (?ibis) standing with open wings. (L.12.5") / [Pitt-Rivers 'Benin' Fig No 286 shows a man on a plaque holding a similar staff] / Benin W. Africa / W.D. Webster. | R. 1903 246"

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

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Description (Labels & Markings)
The number '9782' is marked on the object in two places (the shaft and on the internal surface of the tail of the bird). Both numbers have been crossed out.
Event Date 6/9/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

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Description (Labels & Markings)
An old museum label adhered to object and reads '1902.439/ Staff of office/ Benin / W.D. Webster, Esq'.
The label is broken vertically in the middle but still securely adhered.
Event Date 6/9/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

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Context (Amendments / updates)
There is no known correspondence in the MAA archives that discusses a gift rather than a sale from Webster at any time
Event Date 7/3/2023
Author: Rachel Hand