anklet
- Museum number
- Af1868,1001.3.a-b
- Description
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Pair of anklets; made of silver and silver-gilt. A hinged band of silver is covered with silver-gilt filigree work and silver-gilt spheres. A fringe of silver chains, each ending in a conical pendant, makes a jangling sound when moved.
- Production date
- 19thC
- Dimensions
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Length: 10.50 centimetres (a)
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Length: 10.50 centimetres (b)
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Width: 7.50 centimetres (a)
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Width: 8 centimetres (b)
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Depth: 7.50 centimetres (a)
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Depth: 7.50 centimetres (b)
- Curator's comments
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These type of anklets (Yïgïr Ambar) were worn exclusively by high ranking Christian women. Gold or gilded silver could only be worn with the permission of the Emperor. Most gold was locally sourced, but much of the silver was obtained by melting down imported Maria Theresa Thalers.
The small conical pendants, commonly found on Christian Ethiopian jewellery, are believed to ward of demons with their tinkling sound.
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Part of a collection of material taken from the fortress of Emperor Tewedros II (reigned 1855-1868) at Maqdala during the Abyssinian Campaign (1867-1868). Tewodros had sought to bring the whole of Ethiopia under his control through military campaigns. During these conquests, he took books, holy relics and manuscripts from churches throughout Ethiopia, and particularly from Gondar, with the intention of establishing Maqdala as a seat of learning and research. By 1868, the treasury and church store included hundreds of manuscripts and many fine examples of liturgical objects and art including textiles, paintings, and metal work.
The British Expedition to Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) 1867-1868 culminated in a military assault on Maqdala on 13 April 1868. Tewodros committed suicide, rather than be taken prisoner. Hundreds of his soldiers were killed and many thousands injured. The treasury, church and royal household were plundered by the British and Indian troops. Maqdala was destroyed by military order on 17 April 1868. Much of the plundered material was reassembled by an Army Prize Committee and sold at an auction of loot on the nearby Delanta Plain, 20 – 21 April 1868.
Richard Holmes participated in the Abyssinia Expedition as ‘archaeologist’ and official representative of the British Museum. He was one of the first people to enter Maqdala with the military force. He participated directly in the plundering. He purchased objects from soldiers and at the official sale of loot on behalf of the British Museum.
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See Collection File Af1868,1001.1-32
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Very good; no signs of corrosion and joins are secure. One silver chain with pendant is missing on af1868,1001.3a. Two silver-gilt spheres are missing.
- Associated events
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Associated Event: Abyssinian Campaign 1867 - 1868
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Associated Event: Battle of Maqdala 13 April 1868
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Acquisition notes
- Looted by Richard Holmes at Maqdala (13 April 1868). After the military assault on Maqdala, official orders were given for all loot to be handed over to the Army Prize Committee. However, Holmes was given permission by Sir Robert Napier (Commander in Chief of the Abyssinian Expedition) to retain some objects (described as ‘prizes’). These anklets are not included in the list of items purchased by Holmes at the auction of loot, leading to the conclusion that they were among those he took personally at Maqdala. See letter from R Holmes to J Winter Jones, 22nd April 1868 (British Museum Central Archive, Original Papers Volume 94, April to July 1868, no. 5376) and 'List of articles purchased for the British Museum at the sale of the plunder of Magdala 20 and 21 April 1868', R. Holmes (British Museum Central Archive, Original Papers Volume 94, April to July 1868).
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1868,1001.3.a-b