Accession No
E 1902.461
Description
Afian. Iron chisel, conical with sharp point.
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 1902.461; MAA: AR 1903.275; W. 7332 [Webster No.]
Cultural Affliation
Edo
Material
Metal; Iron
Local Term
Afian [Edo]
Measurements
30mm x 210mm x 30mm Weight 0.65kg
Events
Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "Iron chisel, conical with sharp point."
Event Date
Author: maa
Context (Amendments / updates)
Catalogue card reads, in blue biro: "1902 E 461 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / Iron CHISEL conical with sharp point. / L. 8.3" / Benin W. Africa / Mr W.D. Webster. | R. 1903 275". Red circular sticker on bottom right corner of card.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
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)
'[Benin; Bini]' has been removed from the cultural group field.
Event Date 13/10/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie
Description (Labels & Markings)
A label adhered to the object reads '1902.461 / Chisel / Benin / W.D. Webster, Esq'.
Event Date 13/10/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie
Description (Labels & Markings)
Two markings on the object, in white; one reads 'E.1902.461' and the other is crossed out.
Event Date 2/7/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie
Description (Physical description)
Conic-shaped tool, pointy end but not sharp, with indentation on its surface and residue of old labels. It has corrosion on it.
Event Date 2/7/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie
FM:128098
Images (Click to view full size):