Provenance

4 events

Production

unknown to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)

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

Looted

February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to June 1899 (year approximate)

The object was looted by William Alexander Crawford Cockburn from Benin Kingdom.

Purchase

June 18, 1897

The object was purchased by the British Museum from William Alexander Crawford Cockburn with its destination in London.

Exhibition

1970 to 1973

The object was exhibited at London.

Institution data

British Museum

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2025-06-10

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Registration number object id	Af1897,-.515
Additional IDs object id	Y3/22 (Dark: Benin catalogue number)~Af1897C3.515 (old CDMS no.)
PRN object id	EAF14476
Object Type designation	sansa
Description description	Sansa, musical instrument; made of light wood. In form of hollow rectangular box with eight cane keys attached to horizontal raised bars with fibre cord. Decorated on all surfaces with pyro-engraved grid pattern with central circular hollows.
Ethnic name (made by) ethnic attribution	Edo
Date	19thC (circa)
Production place production place	Made in: Benin City
Findspot place collected	Found/Acquired: Benin City
Materials material	wood ~cane ~fibre
Technique production technique	pyro-surface-decorated
Dimensions dimensions	Height: 4.80 cm~Width: 10.00 cm~Depth: 33.10 cm
Inscription inscriptions	Inscription:~ Inscription details: inscription (label on back of sansa) in English~ Inscription quoted: 97-515. Benin City. C.F. 18 June 1897, (Cockburn).~ Inscription note: Registration number. Findspot. Christy Fund. Date of acquisition. Name of vendor.
Exhibition history exhibition history	Exhibited: 1970-1973, London, Museum of Mankind, Divine Kingship in Africa
Condition condition	Good; two of cane keys appear to have been replaced.
Associated events event	Associated Event: British Expedition to Benin City - Feb 1897
Acquisition name (acquisition) provenance	Major William Alexander Crawford Cockburn
Acquisition name (excavator) provenance	Field Collection by: Major William Alexander Crawford Cockburn
Acquisition date accession date	18 June 1897
Acquisition notes (acquisition) provenance	The vendor served as Deputy Chief of Staff on the British expedition to Benin City, 1897.
Acquisition notes (excavation) provenance	This sansa was looted from Benin City in 1897. The vendor served as Deputy Chief of Staff during the British Expedition to Benin City.

Sensitive Content

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