Provenance

3 events

Production

unknown to 1913

The object was produced in Edo State.

Unknown

1909 to 1913

The object is known to have come into contact with Northcote Whitridge Thomas, in Edo State.

Purchase

1911 to 1914

The object was purchased by the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge from Northcote Whitridge Thomas through Anthony Ashley Bevan with its destination in Cambridge.

Institution data

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2022-07-18

Language: english

Institution field	Value
idno object id	Z 12183
local edo designation	akwe
Physical description/0 description	Top (akwe). held against thumb and one finger when string is unwound from stick
Physical description/1 description	Small spinning top made from a spherical seed or nut with a handle. The handle is a thin shaft of wood pushed through two holes in the seed and exiting at the bottom. There appear to be some parts missing which are mentioned in the attached label.
Physical description/2 description
Physical description/3 description
Physical description/4 description
d_Description Name description	Small spinning top made from a spherical seed or nut with a handle. The handle is a thin shaft of wood pushed through two holes in the seed and exiting at the bottom. There appear to be some parts missing which are mentioned in the attached label.
height dimensions	40 mm
length dimensions	85 mm
width dimensions	40 mm
weight weight
Inscription inscriptions
Labels - Markings/0 inscriptions	Thomas label adhered to object reads: '1901 \| 174 / Top (akwe)'
Labels - Markings/1 inscriptions	Luggage tag attached with string reads: '174 \| Top (akwe). Held against thumb and one finger when string is unwound from / Bini \| over' On reverse: 'Hold top in left hand, big stick cross wise on stem with string ?[drawing] thro' hole & wound round stem. Hold small stick ... hand & ... release ...' N.B. label is water damaged and some of the writing is no longer clear.
Labels - Markings/2 inscriptions
Labels - Markings/3 inscriptions
Labels - Markings/4 inscriptions
Labels - Markings/5 inscriptions
period date made
maker producer
d_Place production place	Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; Edo State; Benin City [Bini]
Other owners prior source
source prior source	Thomas, Northcote Whitridge [field collector]; Bevan, Anthony Ashley (Prof.) [monetary donor]
Collection or Excavation Year date collected
culture group ethnic attribution	Edo
source date accession date
Amendments - updates/0 notes	Record updated as part of the Museum Affordances project 2018-2020
Amendments - updates/1 notes
Amendments - updates/2 notes
Amendments - updates/3 notes
Amendments - updates/4 notes
Exhibition/0 exhibition history
Exhibition/1 exhibition history
Reference Numbers bibliography	Z 12183 Other: 174 [Thomas Collection number - 1st Catalogue]; 1901 [left of Thomas label]
References/0 bibliography
References/0 2 bibliography
References/1 bibliography
Related Documents/0 bibliography	1st Thomas Catalogue notes numbers 1-249 as "Bini (Benin City)". [R.Hand 31/5/2001/]
Related Documents/1 bibliography	Numbered '174' in the Thomas Collection, 1st Catalogue.
Related Documents/2 bibliography	See E 1910.118 and E 1913.3 records for further details about the Thomas Collection from Nigeria'. [T.Cotterill]
Related Documents/3 bibliography
Related Documents/4 bibliography
Related Documents/5 bibliography
Related Documents/6 bibliography
Acquisition Details/0
Acquisition Details/1
Acquisition Details/2
Analysis/0
Analysis/1
Archaeology
Auction - Sale/0
Auction - Sale/1
CMS Context/0
CMS Description
Catalogue
Display/0
Display/1
Display/2
Display/3
Field_collection/0
Field_collection/1
Found_together - assemblage
Freezing
Online Only
Other/0
Other/1
Production - use
Remedial/0
Remedial/1
Surface Clean
unknown

Sensitive Content

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