Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card Z 1792 notes: "Iron sword of peculiar shape with cast bronze hilt showing skeumorphic [sic 'skeuomorphic'] wire binding. A label which has since come off said it was an executioners sword."
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "An execution sword with decorated iron blade and bronze 'pommeled' hilt."
Event Date 6/6/2000
Author: maa

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, in blue biro: "1902 E 442 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / An execution SWORD with decorated iron blade and bronze 'pomelled' hilt / L. 2'.5" / Benin W. Africa /. Mr. W.D. Webster | R. 1903 250"
Event Date 24/8/2020
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card Z 1792 reads, in black ink: "Z 1792. | Benin | W. Africa | Iron sword of peculiar shape with cast bronze hilt showing squomorphic [sic 'skeuomorphic'] wire binding / A label which has since come off said it was a execution sword. / No data / Old number 1902.44 2"

Ink sketch of sword on left side of catalogue card.

Red circular sticker in bottom right corner of catalogue card.
Event Date 27/8/2020
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Amendments / updates)
'[Benin; Bini]' has been removed from the cultural group field.
Event Date 8/10/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

Description (Physical description)
Ada. Ceremonial sword with decorated iron blade and bronze 'pommelled' hilt.
Event Date 19/1/2023
Author: Mark Elliott