Accession No

1950.272


Description

Ama. Fragment of a bronze plaque with warrior in high relief.


Place

Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; [Kingdom of Benin]; Edo State; Benin City


Period

16th century


Source

?British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin [?collector]; ?Webster, William Downing [?vendor]; Green, Frederick William [beqeather]


Department

Anth


Reference Numbers

1950.272; 9469 [written on object; ?Webster no.]


Cultural Affliation

Edo


Material

Metal; Copper Alloy; ?Bronze


Local Term

Ama [Edo]


Measurements

190mm x 48mm x 335mm Weight 2.5kg


Events

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes: "Bronze plaque with warrior in high relief, wearing helmet. Much of background and legs missing."
Added in second hand: "+ 8 ringed necklace"
Event Date 9/6/2000
Author: maa


Context (Amendments / updates)
Unclear on catalogue card whether Edo is the province or language group, and whether Benin refers to the city of Benin. [T.Cotterill]
Event Date 15/5/2001
Author: maa


Context (Amendments / updates)
Photograph attached to rear of catalogue card.
Event Date 8/3/2016
Author: Rachel Hand


Description (Labels & Markings)
The number '9469' has been written on the object. A possible ?Webster number.
Event Date 25/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson


Context (Field collection)
?Collected on the 1897 Punitive Expedition.
Event Date 26/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson


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. The object was tested twice and the results are as follows: 1) Cu: 72.31%; Zn: 9.02%; Sn: 0.64%; Pb: 15.75%. 2) Cu: 74.38%; Zn: 10.08%; Sn: 0.66%; Pb: 12.93%.

It was noted that most plaques are thought to be cast 1550-1610, Riederer alloy D2? At the higher end of the Pb spectrum.
Event Date 27/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson


Conservation (Remedial)
CON.2017.3698 | Remedial
Event Date 6/2/2017
Author: Kirstie Williams


Context (Amendments / updates)
Given by Frederick William Green, Honorary Keeper of Antiquities at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (1908–1949). The majority of 'bronze' items such as these in museum collections were collected on the 1897 Punitive Expedition to Benin. This is likely to be the origin of this work but there is no documentation on Green's acquisition.

The Webster sale number suggests it was sold by Bicester dealer William Webster at some stage probably between 1898- 1901, but the number has not yet been connected to a specific auction
Event Date 7/8/2019
Author: rachel hand


Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads, in blue ink: "50.272 | Africa | Nigeria / Bronze plaque with warrior in high relief, wearing helmet. Much of back-ground + legs missing. / Benin. / F.W. Green bequest."

In second hand and black biro, after "helmet": "+8-ringed helmet"

Red circular sticker on bottom right of card.
Event Date 20/8/2020
Author: Katrina Dring


FM:128149

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