spoon

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Object Type
Museum number: Af.9184
Title: Series: Afro-Portuguese Ivories; Series: Bini-Portuguese Ivories
Description: Spoon, made of elephant ivory. Spatulate bowl with central rib at back and tripartite hook at front. Stem in form of bare-footed European (Portuguese) figure with long straight hair. Wears brimmed hat, pleated knee-length tunic and breeches. Holds ring handle of sword in both hands.
School/style
Production ethnic group
Production date: 1525-1600 (circa)
Production place: Made in: Benin City (?)
Materials
Technique
Dimensions: Height: 19.70 centimetres; Width: 6.20 centimetres; Depth: 3.80 centimetres
Bibliographic references: Barley 2010 / The Art of Benin (fig.93, p.133); Bassani 2001 / African Art and Artefacts in European Collections 1400-1800 (Cat. no. 806. pp. 259-260); Bassani & Fagg 1988 / Africa and the Renaissance: Art in Ivory (Cat. no. 171; p.177. figs.237-238; p.246); Fagg 1959 / Afro-Portuguese Ivories (pl. 46.); Read & Dalton 1899 / Antiquities from the City of Benin and from other parts of West Africa in the British Museum (pl. V fig.4)
Location: On display (G25/dc5)
Exhibition history: Exhibited: 1993-1997, London, Museum of Mankind, Great Benin: a West African Kingdom 1997 Sep-1998 Jan, Osaka, National Museum of Ethnology, Images of Other Cultures 1998, Feb-Apr, Tokyo, Setagaya Art Museum, Images of Other Cultures
Condition: Good. Damage at top of cap. Missing sword.
Subjects
Acquisition name
Previous owner
Acquisition date: 12 Feb 1875
Acquisition notes: Purchased by A W Franks from the dealer Samuel Willson for £1, and given to the BM on 12 February 1875.
Department: Africa, Oceania and the Americas
Registration number: Af.9184
Additional IDs: CDMS number: Af1875C1.9184 (old CDMS no.); Miscellaneous number: Af1875C0212.1

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