Provenance

5 events

Production

unknown to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)

The object was produced in Edo State.

Looted

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

The object was looted by Ralph Frederick Locke from Benin Kingdom.

Auction

January 3, 1928

The object was auctioned to Sydney Bernard Burney by Ralph Frederick Locke through Stevens Auction Rooms in London.

Purchase

January 11, 1928

The object was purchased by the British Museum from Sydney Bernard Burney and Sydney Burney Gallery in London.

Exhibition

February 1, 1991 to April 30, 1991

The object was exhibited at Norwich.

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	Af1928,0112.2.a-b
PRN object id	EAF16550
Object Type designation	anklet
Description description	Anklets, pair of; lost-wax cast in copper alloy or ? bronze. Semi-spiral in form, each decorated with four concentric circular motifs, ladderlike bands and a knot.
Ethnic name (made by) ethnic attribution	Edo (?)
Date	1500-1900 (?)
Production place production place	Made in: Nigeria
Findspot place collected	Found/Acquired: Benin City
Materials material	copper alloy ~bronze (?)
Technique production technique	lost-wax cast
Dimensions dimensions	Height: 8.70 cm (a)~Width: 11.10 cm (a)~Depth: 11.10 cm (a)~Weight: 1802.00 g (a)~Height: 8.90 cm (b)~Width: 11.50 cm (b)~Depth: 10.90 cm (b)~Weight: 1745.00 g (b)
Curator’s comments provenance	The term ‘Lower Niger Bronze Industry’ was created and first used by William Buller Fagg (1957, 1963, 1970) to identify a miscellaneous group of lost-wax cast objects which were stylistically and/or iconographically distinct from Igbo-Ukwu, Ife and Benin City pieces. The objects are associated with various locations in southern Nigeria, south of the confluence of Benue and Niger Rivers and between the borders with the Republic of Benin and Cameroon. They are thought to have been made prior to European contact, circa pre-1500 A.D. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Lower Niger Bronze Industries’ or ‘Lower Niger Bronzes’. Fagg, William B. (1957) ‘Introduction’. In Plass, Margaret. Lost wax; metal casting on the Guinea Coast. London: London Institute of Contemporary Arts. Fagg, William. (1963). Nigerian images: The splendor of African sculpture. New York ; London: Praeger. Fagg, William. (1970) Divine Kingship in Africa. London: Published for the Trustees of the British Museum by British Museum Publications. ; See Collection File: Af1928,0112.1-3.
Bibliographic references bibliography	Fagg 1960: cat. 21 (Grouped in 'Lower Niger Bronze Industry' section)
Exhibition history exhibition history	Exhibited: 1991 Feb-Apr, Norwich, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Man and Metal in Ancient Nigeria
Condition condition	Good.
Acquisition name (acquisition) provenance	Sir Sydney Burney
Acquisition name (excavator) provenance	Field Collection by: Ralph Frederick Locke
Acquisition date accession date	1928.0

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