idno
Z 12078
Edo designations
Aza
Aza
English designations
Bell
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Musical Instruments
Location
Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3DZ, United Kingdom
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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 fieldValue
idno
object id
Z 12078
local
edo designation
aza
Physical description/0
description
Bell (aza)
Physical description/1
description
A conical bell made from sheet iron with a clapper. The clapper is hooked through the surface of the bell. The top of the bell is split in two and folded back on itself, resembling horns. There are two holes pierced through the top.
Physical description/2
description
Physical description/3
description
Physical description/4
description
d_Description Name
description
Aza. A conical bell made from sheet iron with a clapper. The clapper is hooked through the surface of the bell. The top of the bell is split in two and folded back on itself, resembling horns. There are two holes pierced through the top.
height
dimensions
187 mm
length
dimensions
27 mm
width
dimensions
27 mm
weight
weight
Inscription
inscriptions
Labels - Markings/0
inscriptions
Thomas label adhered to bell reads: '531 | 70A / Bell (aza), iron. / Bini'
Labels - Markings/1
inscriptions
Luggage tag attached with string reads: '70a | Bell (aza), rung when ake is about to be worshipped. Ake is a woman's cult object made of cowries stuck on a stick so as to resemble head of maize. / Bini'
Labels - Markings/2
inscriptions
Thomas/Bevan label attached with string reads: 'T.C.70a / Bell.'
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
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 12078 Other: 70 A [Thomas Collection number - 1st Catalogue]; 531 [left of Thomas label]
References/0
bibliography
References/0 2
bibliography
References/1
bibliography
Related Documents/0
bibliography
Black and white photograph attached to rear of catalogue card.
Related Documents/1
bibliography
Numbered '70 A' in the Thomas Collection, 1st catalogue.
Related Documents/2
bibliography
1st Thomas Catalogue notes numbers 1-249 as "Bini (Benin City)". [R.Hand]
Related Documents/3
bibliography
See E 1910.118 and E 1913.3 records for further details about the Thomas Collection from Nigeria. [T.Cotterill]
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

Digital Benin collates digital material from institutions, and some of this material is inherently colonial and contains words, terms and phrases that are inaccurate, derogatory and harmful towards African and African diasporic communities. Catalogue transcriptions, book titles, exhibition titles and museum titles may contain harmful terms. We recognise the potential for the material to cause physical and mental distress as well as evoke strong emotions. Owing to the scale of the collection’s data, a process to implement sensitive-content warnings in the displayed data is still incomplete. The material within the catalogue does not represent Digital Benin’s views. Digital Benin maintains a strong anti-colonial, anti-racist position and affirms its support for centring the humanity of historically marginalised and disenfranchised communities. Read more about the background of this statement here