Provenance

3 events

Production

1500 (approximate) to 1550 (approximate)

The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igbesamwan guild in Benin City.

Unknown

1928 (approximate) to 1950

The object is known to have come into contact with Sydney Bernard Burney, later in London.

Purchase

1950

The object was purchased by the National Museums Scotland from Sydney Bernard Burney and Sydney Burney Gallery from London to Edinburgh.

Institution data

National Museums Scotland

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2021-05-26

Language: english

Institution field	Value
alternative_number object id
object_number object id	A.1950.3
object_name designation object type	Salt-cellar
description description	Salt-cellar of carved elephant ivory with two chambers, with Portuguese horsemen and other figures, carved by a Bini craftsman working to Portuguese specifications, with later replacement lid: West Africa, Nigeria, Edo State, Benin, 16th century
material material	Elephant ivory
dimensions dimensions	Middle part: Height 120mm accurate. Middle part: Width 120mm accurate. Middle part: Depth 120mm accurate. Bottom part: Height 90mm accurate. Bottom part: Width 90mm accurate. Bottom part: Depth 90mm accurate
production.period date made	16th century
technique production technique	Carved
production.place production place	Benin, Edo State, Nigeria, Western Africa
acquisition.source prior source	Burney, Sydney, 1937 - 1950 (fl.)
association.subject event
acquisition.date accession date	1950
acquisition.method accession method	PURCHASE
notes notes	WEST AFRICA. SOUTHERN NIGERIA. BENIN. IVORY. SALT-CELLAR, made by Bini Craftsman. Afro-Portuguese, Benin 16th Century, Midwestern State, Nigeria. Elephant ivory carved in two stages, in the form of two spheres connected by a thin central column, around which are riding two Portuguese soldiers accompanied by a smaller European figure, and at the rear a native holding a branch. Wider World Gallery Label Text, 2001: Salt Cellar. Nigeria. Benin. Sixteenth Century. Elephant ivory salt cellar with two chambers (the lid of the upper one is missing), carved with Portuguese horsemen and other figures. This piece and the one next to it were carved by Bini craftsmen, working to Portuguese specifications. Curator note, 21 October 2010: Dimensions - 120 mm H x 120 mm W x 120 mm depth. \|\| Further provenance for A.1950.3 prior to purchase from Sydney Burney, London dealer recorded in register in 1950 has not been established.
exhibition exhibition history	Artistic Legacies \|\| Artistic Legacies
references bibliography
image_ref_no images	PF32578; PF32579; PF32580; PF32581; PF32582; PF32583; PF32584
alternative_number.type
association.person
association.person.association
association.person.note
school_style	Benin \|\| Portuguese

National Museums Scotland

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2023-06-19

Language: english

Institution field	Value
object_number object id	A.1950.3
object_name object type	Salt-cellar
description description	Salt-cellar of carved elephant ivory with two chambers, with Portuguese horsemen and other figures, carved by a Bini craftsman working to Portuguese specifications, with later replacement lid: West Africa, Nigeria, Edo State, Benin, 16th century
material material	Elephant ivory
dimensions dimensions	Middle part: Height 120mm accurate. Middle part: Width 120mm accurate. Middle part: Depth 120mm accurate. Bottom part: Height 90mm accurate. Bottom part: Width 90mm accurate. Bottom part: Depth 90mm accurate
production.period date made	16th century
technique production technique	Carved
production.place production place	Benin, Edo State, Nigeria, Western Africa
acquisition.source	Sydney Bernard Burney (1878 – 1951) was a London art dealer and collector with an interest in African art, who served as a President of the British Antique Dealers' Association.
acquisition.date accession date	1950
acquisition.method accession method	PURCHASE
notes notes	WEST AFRICA. SOUTHERN NIGERIA. BENIN. IVORY. SALT-CELLAR, made by Bini Craftsman. Afro-Portuguese, Benin 16th Century, Midwestern State, Nigeria. Elephant ivory carved in two stages, in the form of two spheres connected by a thin central column, around which are riding two Portuguese soldiers accompanied by a smaller European figure, and at the rear a native holding a branch. Wider World Gallery Label Text, 2001: Salt Cellar. Nigeria. Benin. Sixteenth Century. Elephant ivory salt cellar with two chambers (the lid of the upper one is missing), carved with Portuguese horsemen and other figures. This piece and the one next to it were carved by Bini craftsmen, working to Portuguese specifications. Curator note, 21 October 2010: Dimensions - 120 mm H x 120 mm W x 120 mm depth. \|\| Further provenance for A.1950.3 prior to purchase from Sydney Burney, London dealer recorded in register in 1950 has not been established.
exhibition exhibition history	Artistic Legacies \|\| Artistic Legacies

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