Accession No

E 1902.451


Description

Urhotọ. Figure from altar tableau. Bronze sculpture of a man with a mitre shaped shield and staff/spear in one hand, and an unidentified object in the other. He wears bell around his neck. Possibly detached from a larger sculpture such as Queen Mother's shrine


Place

Africa; West Africa; [Kingdom of Benin]; Nigeria; Edo State; Benin City; Oba's Palace


Period

14th - 19th century


Source

British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin [collector]; Webster, William Downing [donor]


Department

Anth


Reference Numbers

E 1902.451; MAA: AR 1903.265; 9919 [Webster lot number]


Cultural Affliation

Edo


Material

Metal; Copper Alloy; ?Bronze; ?Brass


Local Term

Urhotọ [Edo]


Measurements

120mm x 230mm x 77mm Weight 2.05kg


Events

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: Katrina Dring


Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "Bronze or brass group consisting of a man wearing elaborate robes, a mitre-shaped headdress and a bell round the neck, holding an ornate shield-like object in the left hand."

Event Date 6/6/2000
Author: maa


Context (Field collection)
Probably collected on the 1897 Punitive Expedition.
Event Date 26/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson


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 (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. 451 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / Bronze of brass standing figure of a MAN wearing elaborate robes, a mitre shaped headdress and a bell round the neck holding an ornate shield-like object in the left hand. L. 9" / Benin W. Africa / Mr W.D. Webster | R 1903 215"

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


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


Description (Labels & Markings)
Written in white on the rear '9919/ This is the William Webster lot number also noted in the Accession Register.
Event Date 13/10/2021
Author: rachel hand


Description (Physical description)
Roughly cast bronze sculpture of a man with a shield in one hand, and an unidentified object in the other. He wears a bell around his neck. Very similar in style to 1950.271 and possibly from the same larger piece
Event Date 21/10/2021
Author: Katrina Dring


FM:128088

Images (Click to view full size):