Object

Accession No

E 1902.453

Description

Iyeọkhọkhọ. Figure of a hen, of bronze or brass, standing on a square pedestal. Placed on a shrine in the memory of a maternal ancestor

Place

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

Period

Source

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

Department

Anth

Reference Numbers

E 1902.453; MAA: AR 1903.267; W. 14387 [Webster stock number; written on object]

Cultural Affliation

Edo

Material

Metal; Copper Alloy; ?Bronze; ?Brass

Local Term

Iyeọkhọkhọ [Edo]

Measurements

70mm x 190mm x 130mm Weight 1.3kg

Events

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 (Acquisition Details)
The Accession Registers record E 1902.428- 461 (AR 1902.229-275) as a donation of Benin objects by Webster.

The Eighteenth Annual Report of the Antiquarian Committee to the Senate (April 23, 1903) also records that 'A gap in the collections of the Museum has been filled by a series of twenty-two fine bronzes from Benin, which Mr W. D. Webster has generously presented to the University'.
Event Date 1902
Author: rachel hand

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "A bronze or brass cock standing on a square beaded pedestal."
Event Date 6/6/2000
Author: maa

Description (Labels & Markings)
The Webster sale room number '14387' has been written on the side of the bird in white ink and crossed out.
Event Date 23/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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.
Results were inconclusive
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 (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902 E 453 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / Bronze or Brass COCK standing on a square beaded pedestal. H. 5.5" / Benin W. Africa / Mr W.D. Webster. | R 1903 267"

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

Description (Labels & Markings)
A rectangular handwritten museum label adhered to the base of the pedestal reads '1902.453 / Bronze cock / Benin / W.D. Webster, Esq.'
Event Date 7/10/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

Context (Production / use)
The spike serves as a support for a horn or tusk. Placed on a shrine in the memory of a maternal ancestor.
Event Date 7/10/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

Description (Labels & Markings)
A label that reads 'E 872' [crossed out] / '1675' was found with the object though its association is unclear.
Event Date 7/10/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

Context (References)
Part of the Digital Benin website and noted as a https://digitalbenin.org/catalogue/28_E1902453 or henn figure

Available at Event Date 13/3/2023
Author: Flo Sutton

Description (Physical description)
Okpa. Figure of a bronze or brass cockerel standing on a square pedestal. There is no spike present, but three pins in the back of the bird suggest something may have been attached to it previously.
Event Date 13/3/2023
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

Description (Physical description)
Iyeọkhọkhọ or hen figure
Event Date 13/3/2023
Author: Flo Sutton

Context (Amendments / updates)
There is no known correspondence in the MAA archives that discusses a gift rather than a sale from Webster at any time
Event Date 7/3/2023
Author: rachel hand

FM:128090