Context (Field collection)
Assumed to be part of the looted ancestral treasures taken from the Palace of Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (ruled 1888–1897) in Benin City as part of the British Benin Expedition, February 1897. The strike force led by Admiral Sir Harry Holdsworth Rawson was historically known as the ‘Benin Punitive Expedition’. Ostensibly undertaken in revenge for the ambush and death of a so-called trade mission led by Acting Consul General James Phillips who was keen to depose the Oba and expand British commercial interests.
Event Date 1897
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Context (References)
Webster, W.D. (1899). Illustrated Catalogue of Ethnological Specimens. European and Eastern Arms and Armour. Prehistoric and Other Curiosities, Vol. 3, No. 18.
Illustrated in unnumbered plate, figures 65-75. No. 65. (6451) Do. Plaque with fish in relief, 7-1/2 inches high, 14-3/4 long (Benin) £5.0.0.
Event Date 1899
Author: maa

Description (Labels & Markings)
Marked in white ink: '6451' [Webster Coll. no.-now crossed through]
Event Date 1899
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Description (Labels & Markings)
Museum label adhered to the object reads: '1902.446. Plaque - catfish. Benin. W.D. Webster, Esq.'
Event Date 1902
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (Display)
Displayed in "Metal in Africa", an MAA exhibition, held in the Andrews Gallery, 26 September 1996- 28 February 1998
Event Date 26/9/1996
Author: Lucie Carreau

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "An oblong plaque with patterned ground and border depicting a catfish covered with diaper work."
Event Date 6/6/2000
Author: maa

Context (Analysis)
In January 2017, Prof. Marcos Martinon-Torres and Agnese Benzonelli, UCL Institute of Archaeology, tested this item using a portable XRF as part of a programme of base metal analysis of Benin material.
Event Date 27/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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 (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 2/10/2018
Author: Lucie Carreau

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

Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902 E 446 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / Oblong PLAQUE with patterned ground and border depicting a cat fish covered with diaper work, / Benin W. Africa / Mr. W.D. Webster | R. 1903 260"

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