necklace
- Museum number
- Af1868,1001.29
- Description
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Necklace; made of beads. Faceted, mid blue, glass beads threaded onto a leather thong. Attached to the thong with leather knotwork is a cast bell, made of copper alloy. At the top, a coil of leather is stitched to the thong.
- Production date
- 19thC
- Dimensions
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Height: 52 centimetres
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Width: 16.50 centimetres
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Depth: 4.50 centimetres
- Curator's comments
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Part of a collection of material taken from the fortress of Emperor Tewodros 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
- 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 Robert Napier (Commander in Chief of the Abyssinian Campaign) to retain some objects (described as ‘prizes’). This necklace is not included in the list of items purchased by Holmes at the auction of loot, leading to the conclusion that it was 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
- Af1868,1001.29
