Context (Field collection)
Presumed taken during 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 (References)
Webster, W.D. (1900). "Catalogue No. 24, of Ethnographical Specimens in Bronze, Wrought Iron, Ivory and Wood, from Benin City, West Africa, taken at the fall of the City in February 1897, by the British Punitive Expedition under the command of Admiral Rawson." Illustrated Catalogue of Ethnological Specimens. European and Eastern Arms and Armour. Prehistoric and Other Curiosities, Vol. 4, No. 24.
Illustrated as Plate 15; figs 60-80 '(8786) Bronze leopard, 3 1/4 by 5 3/4 inches. £3.3.0.'
Event Date 1900
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "A bronze or brass leopard with collar of bells standing on a stone celt, (the later still an object of awe and superstition to the modern native). Base broken."
Event Date 1902
Author: maa

Description (Labels & Markings)
The Webster stock number 'W. 8786' has been written on the object.
Event Date 23/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Conservation (Remedial)
CON.2017.3720 | Remedial
Event Date 6/2/2017
Author: Kirstie Williams

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. This object was tested three times, the results are as follows: 1) Cu: 79.10%; Zn: 18.63%; Sn: 0.12%; Pb: 1.56%. 2) Cu: 81.35%; Zn: 15.84%; Sn: 0.14%; Pb: 1.72%. 3) Cu: 81.96%; Zn: 14.97%; Sn: 0.14%; Pb: 1.90%. It was noted the date was hard to tell, with moderate Zn reading but some impurities, it could be pre-1700.
Event Date 21/3/2017
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 (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902 E 454 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / A bronze or brass LEOPARD with collar of bells standing over a stone celt (the latter still an object of awe & superstition to the modern native) base broken. / (5.5" x 3") / Benin W Africa / Mr W.D. Webster. | R 1903 268."

Red circular sticker in 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

Context (References)
Part of the Digital Benin project website available at
Ẹkpẹn (leopard figures) are widely featured in Benin arts. In Benin, leopards are considered the king of the forest and as such seen as a symbol of authority. The leopard is a royal symbol of kingship because it embodies the qualities of courage, strength, ferocity and wisdom. Leopards were hunted by Iviekpen.

In Edo, leopards are described as the ‘king of the bush’, whereas the Ọba is the ‘king of the home’. Although ferocious, leopards are seen as natural leaders, as powerful animals with qualities of moderation and restraint (Ben-Amos, 1976, p.247). Therefore, the Ọba is seen as similar to the leopard, and when depicted on objects or as objects, the leopard symbolises the Ọba. As such, the Ọba is sometimes referred to as the ‘leopard of the house’ (Vogel, 1978, p.93).
Event Date 3/4/2023
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 3/4/2023
Author: rachel hand