arm-cuff
- Museum number
- Af1897,-.519
- Title
- Series: Benin Ivory
- Description
-
Arm-cuff; made of elephant ivory. Cylindrical in form with carved figures arranged horizontally in registers all round surface. Alternating heads of leopards and Portuguese.
- Production date
- 16thC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 8.20 centimetres
-
Depth: 13 centimetres
- Curator's comments
-
Read & Dalton 1899:
The design is very smooth from wear ; it consists of eight rows (shown vertically in the plate) of repetitions of two figures, five in each row ; they appear to represent the face of a leopard alternating with that of a European. The oblique eyes and whiskers of the animal are in some cases very clear. The same design appears very distinctly, both on the bell (Fig. 9) and on the bronze panel (PI. XXIX., Fig. 6). The head of the European is even more rudimentary, but will be more readily understood if compared with the standing figure of a European at the base of the carved tusk (PI. VII., Fig. 3), where the head-dress is the same. (Cf. p. 15, Figs. 4 and 6). Small holes are pierced between the figures
-
Associated roll out impression of this ivory arm-cuff in plaster in Museum colleciton: Af,CRS.52.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
-
Fair; entire surface worn smooth through wear. Missing section from left and right proper edges.
-
Read & Dalton 1899:
The original is apparently very old, and the edges have been gnawed by rats. The design is very smooth from wear.
- Associated events
- Associated Event: British Expedition to Benin City Feb 1897
- Acquisition date
- 18 June 1897
- Acquisition notes
- During the British expedition to Benin City (Edo) in 1897 objects made of brass, bronze, ivory, coral, and wood were looted by British soldiers from the royal palace, its storerooms, and compounds.
Some of these objects were sold or exchanged in West Africa. However, many were brought to the UK where they were retained by soldiers of the expedition and subsequently inherited by thier families; put up for auction; or donated, lent, or sold to museums.
See Collection File: Af1897,-.498-563.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1897,-.519
- Additional IDs
-
CDMS number: Af1897C3.519 (old CDMS no.)