Accession No
E 1904.379
Description
Okpia. Standing figure of a man cast in bronze holding a rope, (lower part and base is missing).
Place
Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; [Kingdom of Benin]; Edo State; Benin City
Period
14th - 19th century
Source
British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin [collector];Webster, William Downing [vendor]; Fenton, Samuel G. [purchaser]; Jenkinson, Francis John Henry [monetary donor]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
E 1904.379; MAA: AR 1905.780; 11641 [Webster Lot No.]; 04.275 [crossed out on label]
Cultural Affliation
Edo
Material
Metal; Copper Alloy; ?Bronze
Local Term
Okpia [Edo]
Measurements
36mm x 140mm x 47mm Weight 1.35kg
Events
Context (Related Documents)
replacement catalogue card reads, in black biro: "1904 E 379 | AFRICA | WEST AFRICA / NIGERIA / Standing figure of a MAN cast in bronze holding a rope (lower part missing). / Benin. / Purchased Webster's Sale 1904 / F.J.H. Jenkinson's donation | R. 1905 780"
Red circular sticker in bottom right of card.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Context (Field collection)
Presumed to have been taken during the British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin, 1897, as Webster became the pre-eminent dealer in looted Benin material
Event Date 2/1897
Author: rachel hand
Description (Labels & Markings)
The number '11641' has been written on the object.
Event Date 1904
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson
Context (Related Documents)
E 1904.376 is noted in the register as 'Benin/ Webster Sale 1904' and annotated 'though S.G. Fenton'.
This is written in the line for E 1904.376 but the ditto marks below suggest it may apply to the whole F.J.H. Jenkinson donation.
Event Date 1904
Author: rachel hand
Description (Labels & Markings)
Old museum label adhered to object, notes: '04.275./ bronze figure/ (legs missing)/Benin/ Webster -- --- [illegible text].
Possibly added later in a different ink '*F.J.H. Jenkinson MA'
The number '04.275' has been crossed out and may have been an incorrect accession number. The current accession number has been added later
Event Date 1904
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "Standing figure of a man cast in bronze holding a rope, (lower part is missing)"
Event Date 7/6/2000
Author: maa
Context (Auction / Sale)
Catalogue card reads "Purchased, Webster Sale 1904, F.J.H. Jenkinson's donation."
F.J.H. Jenkinson M.A.
Event Date 7/6/2000
Author: maa
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 (References)
Fenton's antique dealers established a well-known 'Old Curiosity Shop' in the mid 19th century in Bury St. Edmunds. George Fenton was trading at 5 & 6 Meat Market, Bury St. Edmunds in 1855.
By 1888, if not earlier, they had opened 'The Old Curiosity Shop' in London, 11, New Oxford Street, where Samuel G. Fenton was trading as Fenton and Sons. Letters to Gen. Pitt Rivers, regarding potential new acquisition are addressed from Fenton and Sons on Oxford Street and are dated to 1888.
See http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/rpr/index.php/primary-documents-index/16-second-collection-1880-1900/659-pitt-rivers-and-fentons/index.html
See also Antique Dealers: the British Antique Trade in the 20th Century, https://antiquetrade.leeds.ac.uk/dealerships/36132 Both accessed 2/10/2018.
Event Date 2/10/2018
Author: rachel hand
Context (Amendments / updates)
Photograph attached to rear of catalogue card.
Event Date 27/8/2020
Author: Katrina Dring
FM:128108
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