Context (Related Documents)
Photograph attached to rear of catalogue card crated during the Shorts DCF project 2000- 2002
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "A bronze or brass group consisting of a man wearing cross bands of coal etc. Each outstretched hand rests on (riveted to) the head of a naked child standing with joined hands."

Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Related Documents)
Replacement catalogue card reads; in blue biro: "1902 E 450 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / A bronze or brass group consisting of a MAN wearing crossbands of coral etc. Each outstretched hands rests on (rivetted [sic] to) the head of a naked child standing with joined hands. L. 8.1" / Benin W. Africa / Mr. W.D. Webster. | R 1903 264"

Red circular sticker in bottom right of card.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Field collection)
Presumed taken on the British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin, February 1897, as Webster became the pre-eminent dealer in looted Benin material
Event Date 2/1897
Author: rachel hand

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.
Event Date 27/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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

Context (Amendments / updates)
The phrase 'British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin' has been added to the source field based on the recommendations of Digital Benin. This explicitly links the object to the capture of Benin City by British Navy Forces and members of the Nigerian Coast Protectorate Forces on 18 February 1897.
The queries have been removed.
(https://digitalbenin.org/provenance/139; accessed 10.3.2023)

Event Date 27/2/2023
Author: Rachel Hand

Context (References)
Part of the Digital Benin project website. Available at
Event Date 13/3/2023
Author: rachel hand

Context (Analysis)
Analysed using XRF instrumentation by Dr Agnese Benzonelli, University of Cambridge, as part of research by Prof. Marcos Martinon-Torres and Dr Agnese Benzonelli into Benin material at MAA


Event Date 13/3/2023
Author: rachel hand

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

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