Context (Field collection)
Presumed taken on the British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin, February 1897. There is no information on how Clarke acquired this object, but given that such objects on the market in the early twentieth century reached Britain through the Expedition, and the likely sale room or auction acquisition, this is presumed to be the most likely route.
Event Date 2/1897
Author: Katrina Dring

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Context (Display)
Lent by Louis Clarke for exhibition in the Nigerian Pavilion at the British Empire Exhibition, Wembley Park, London, 23 April 1924 to 31 October 1925. The Nigerian Pavilion featured Nigerian artists as living displays, historic material and a replica altar from the Oba, Aiguobasinwin Ovonramwen, Eweka II, which featured painted wooden representations of the original bronze and ivory artworks.

Event Date 23/4/1924
Author: maa

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Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads, in black ink: "25.69 | Benin / West Africa / Bronze panel with male figure with choker - coral necklaces & elaborate skirt and holding a sceptre in right hand. / Cast in one piece / Exhibited by Donor at Brit. Empire Exhibitions at Wembley 1925."
Red circular sticker on bottom right corner of card.
Event Date 1925
Author: Katrina Dring

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Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "Bronze panel with male figure with choker- coral necklaces and elaborate skirt and holding a sceptre in right hand. Cast in one piece."

Event Date 1925
Author: maa

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Context (Display)
Exhibited: Previously displayed in Drawer B under the Africa case, Maudsley Gallery, CUMAA, 1990- November 2015.
Label in gold script on the glass drawer top noted 'Benin Plaque/ A bronze panel depicting a male figure adorned with choker coral necklaces, an elaborate skirt and holding a sceptre in his right hand. Cast in one piece, Benin/ Nigeria. Clarke Gift/ 1925.69.

Event Date 1990
Author: Katrina Dring

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Context (Display)
Displayed as part of "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

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Description (Physical description)
A copper hook has been soldered onto back of panel, possibly for display
Event Date 10/5/2001
Author: Katrina Dring

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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

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Context (Related Documents)
Photograph attached to rear of catalogue card.
Event Date 19/8/2020
Author: Katrina Dring

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Conservation (Remedial)
CON.2022.5433 | Remedial
Event Date 4/10/2022
Author: Kirstie French

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Context (Amendments / updates)
Presumed to have been acquired in the attack on Benin City by British forces in 1897.
The phrase 'British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin' has been added to the source field based on the recommendations of Digital Benin. This explicitly links the object to the capture of Benin City by British Navy Forces and members of the Nigerian Coast Protectorate Forces on 18 February 1897.
The queries have been removed. Queries have also been removed from the place field and the terms 'Kingdom of Benin' and 'Benin City'. The maker and artist field has been updated with the 'Igun Eronmwon (royal guild of brass casters)'. The period field has been updated to the '15th-19th century'.
(https://digitalbenin.org/provenance/139; accessed 10.3.2023)

Event Date 10/3/2023
Author: Rachel Hand

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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 13/3/2023
Author: Flo Sutton

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Loan (Exhibition)
Fitzwilliam Museum (UCM), 25/7/2023 to 7/1/2024, Enslavement & Resistance: Cambridge & the Black Atlantic
Event Date 25/7/2023
Author: rachel hand

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Context (Other owners)
In July 2022, the University of Cambridge agreed to repatriate 116 artefacts, including this object, taken from Benin City by the British military in February 1897. A legal transfer of ownership to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria, took place on 27 January 2026.
The source field has been updated accordingly.
Event Date 27/1/2026
Author: Jan-Henrik Hartung

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Context (Other)
One of 99 objects on deposit from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Nigeria (pending a physical return to Nigeria).
Event Date 27/1/2026
Author: Jan-Henrik Hartung

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Description (Physical description)
Ama. Lost wax cast small, narrow rectangular bronze plaque depicting a standing male figure wearing a coral neck and cross-body ornaments and an elaborate waist garments. Holding a sceptre in the right hand. Loop pendent added at base
Event Date 17/6/2026
Author: Rachel Hand