Accession No
1950.267 B
Description
Bronze figure of a cockerel.
Place
Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; South Nigeria; ?Benin; ?Edo
Period
Source
British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin [field collector] Green, Frederick William [bequeather]; ?Webster, William Downing [?vendor]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
1950.267 B; MAA: 1950.267 A-B; 14400 [?Webster no. written on object]
Cultural Affliation
Edo
Material
Metal; Copper Alloy; ?Bronze
Local Term
Measurements
80mm x 135mm x 156mm Weight 0.75kg
Events
Description (Physical description)
One of two bronze cocks.
A- a good specimen
B- poor .
Event Date 9/10/2001
Author: Remke Velden
Description (Labels & Markings)
The number '14400' has been written on the object.
Event Date 26/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson
Context (Auction / Sale)
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 (Amendments / updates)
Photograph attached to the rear of the catalogue card.
Event Date 20/8/2020
Author: Katrina Dring
Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads, in blue ink: 50.267 A/B | Africa | Nigeria / Two bronze cocks. / A. ht. about 7 ins, a good specimen / B. [ht. about] 4 [ins], poor / Benin / F.W. Green bequest."
Red circular sticker on bottom right of card.
Event Date 20/8/2020
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Labels & Markings)
The accession number is marked in white on the base of the obejct.
Event Date 7/10/2021
Author: Benjamina Dadzie
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.
(https://digitalbenin.org/provenance/139; accessed 10.3.2023)
Event Date 10/3/2023
Author: Rachel Hand
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 14/3/2023
Author: rachel hand
Context (Amendments / updates)
Not included on the lists of items for transfer to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria
Event Date 22/1/2024
Author: Rachel Hand
FM:273935
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