Object

Accession No

1927.304

Description

Ẹgba. Bronze bracelet. Conventionalised decoration of plaiting - cast using the lost wax method.

Place

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

Period

15th-19th century

Source

?British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin [?collector]; Webster, William Downing [vendor]; Oldman, William Ockelford [second vendor]; Ridgeway, William (Professor Sir) [bequeather]

Department

Anth

Reference Numbers

1927.304; 11339 [Webster stock no. written on object]

Cultural Affliation

Edo

Material

Metal; Copper Alloy; ?Bronze

Local Term

Ẹgba [Edo]

Measurements

70mm x 32mm x 65mm Weight 0.16kg

Events

Context (Field collection)
Presumed to have been taken from the palace of Oba Ovọnramwẹn Nọgbaisi in Benin City during the 1897 Benin Expedition as Webster became the pre-eminent dealer in looted Benin material
Event Date 2/1897
Author: rachel hand

Context (Other owners)
Catalogue card notes "Apparently bought from Oldman"
Event Date 1927
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads: "27.304 | Benin / S. Nigeria / Bronze bracelet - conventionalised decoration of plaiting - cast in cire perdue method. / Apparently bought from Oldman."
Stamped in black ink, rectangular border: "RIDGEWAY BEQUEST"
Red circular sticker on bottom right of catalogue card.
Event Date 1927
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Amendments / updates)
Donor : Professor Sir William Ridgeway

Event Date 8/6/2000
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "Bronze bracelet - Conventionalised decoration of plaiting - cast in cire perdue method"

Event Date 8/6/2000
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Traces of copper corrosion found.
Event Date 21/5/2001
Author: Katrina Dring

Conservation (Remedial)
CON.2017.3676 | Remedial
Event Date 13/1/2017
Author: Kirstie Williams

Description (Physical description)
Round-shaped, resembling an oval on one side, bracelet with arched and linear plait motifs on the external part. It also has brown accretion on the external surface. The internal surface has small protrusions, presumably from the manufacturing process.
Event Date 2/7/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

Description (Labels & Markings)
A marking that reads '11339.' and a label that reads '27.304.', both on the internal surface.
Event Date 2/7/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie

Context (Auction / Sale)
Purchased by Ridgway from dealer William Ockleford Oldman. However, the object bears the sale room stock number 11339, which appears to be a Webster number. Oldman did sell objects that had come from Webster’s collection and this is probably the case here.

Event Date 10/3/2023
Author: rachel hand

FM:128132