Details

Object type

soldier figure

Culture/School

Edo

Place Associated

Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, South Edo State (place associated)

Date

19th century

Materials

brass

Dimensions

overall: 390 mm x 90 mm x 55 mm

Description

Glasgow City Council approved the repatriation of this object to Nigeria at the City Administration Committee held on 7 April 2022. Part of a selection of culturally significant sculptures and objects that was taken from ancestral altars at the Royal Court of Benin during the British Punitive Expedition of 1897. Glasgow Museums acquired these objects from various sources in Britain such as gifts, bequests and from auction houses.

Repatriation Benin: Bronze figure of soldier or attendant holding sword in right hand. Imitation of heavy coral necklace. Elaborate headdress with 3 thin flanges issuing from crown. Wears hatched tunic. Very crude. Mended in 2 places with roughly soldered brass splodges. On rectangular base.

ID Number

A.1945.104.s

Location

Kelvingrove Cultural Connections