Context (Other owners)
Rachel Hand: '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' (02/10/2018).
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (References)
Webster Catalogue No. 21: '35 (6941) Bronze object, use unknown, ornamented with snakes, 7 1/8 inches high (BENIN CITY) 0 15 0.'
Event Date 1902
Author: Mark Elliott

Description (Physical description)
Annual report for AR 1903.255: 'A tall oblong socket (?stand), the flat rim of the mouth supports a pair of short cylinders with rope pattern edging, from which a zig zag snake descends tail first on either face, while a similar but smaller snake decorates each end.'
Event Date 1903
Author: maa

Context (Amendments / updates)
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 444 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / A tall oblong SOCKET (?STAND), the flat rim of the mouth supports a pair of short cylinders with rope-pattern edging from which a zigzag snake descents tail first on either face, while a similar but smaller snake decorates each end. / (7.1" x 2", .3 x 1.5") / Mr W.D. Webster | R. 1903 255"

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

Context (References)
Illustrated in Webster Catalogue (1902) No. 21, No. 35, plate 3.
Event Date 28/10/2021
Author: Mark Elliott

Description (Labels & Markings)
Webster Catalogue Number 6941 is written in white on one face.
Event Date 14/19/2021
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (Amendments / updates)
A similar architectural element is illustrated in Annette Schmidt with Rosalie Hans (2021) Catalogue, in Provenance, series #2, , p. 87 No.1.1.
The architectural fragment is noted as purchased from W.D. Webster, February 1900, MNWV (Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturenen, Museum Volkenkunde, Leiden, (ref: RV-1243-11). Proven link to the British militaray campaign on 1897.

Published on Mar 29, 2021, available at https://issuu.com/tropenmuseum/docs/2021_provenance_2__benin__e-book
Event Date 14/9/2022
Author: rachel hand

Context (Analysis)
Dr. Itohan Osayimwese, Associate Professor, History of Art & Architecture, Brown University, noted that on the royal palace buildings and on the two known plaques that illustrate the royal palace now in the British Museum and the Ethnologisches Museum, Berlin, snakes are orientated with the heads downwards. The use of this object is unclear as the open socket appears to have been broken off something which could better indicate its use. Could the fire have impacted on the bent shape of the flange.

From notes on her visit to MAA, 14/09/2022
Event Date 14/9/2022
Author: rachel hand