Provenance

6 events

Production

unknown to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)

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

Looted

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

The object was looted by Unknown member of the British colonial military campaign on Benin - February 1897 from Benin Kingdom.

Unknown

February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to June 27, 1899

The object is known to have come into contact with George R. Harding, later in London.

Purchase

June 27, 1899

The object was purchased by Augustus Henry Pitt-Rivers (Lane Fox) and Farnham Pitt-Rivers Museum from George R. Harding from London to Farnham.

Unknown

1960 (uncertain/approximate) to April 1974

The object is known to have come into contact with Everett Rassiga, later in New York City.

Purchase

April 1974

The object was purchased by the National Gallery of Australia from Everett Rassiga from New York City to Canberra.

Institution data

National Gallery of Australia

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2021-10-26

Language: english

Institution field	Value
irn object id	36318
Main Title designation object type	Box in the form of a mudfish or catfish
Materials and Technique material	carved ivory
Dimensions dimensions	19.5 x 12.0 x 4.6 x cm
Date Created date made	15th century
Creators producer	Edo people, Court of Benin
Place Of Creation production place	Northern Niger Delta, Nigeria
Provenance provenance	with George R. Harding (1888–c.1912), London; from whom bought by Augustus Pitt-Rivers (1827–1900), Oxford, 27 June 1899 (£5); with Everett Rassiga (1922–2003), New York; from whom bought by the Australian National Gallery, Canberra, April 1974 The collecting history of this work of art is partial. Its location and ownership are unknown before the 19th century, and between the 1910s and the 1970s. The National Gallery of Australia welcomes further information regarding its history of ownership.
Credit Line accession date	Purchased 1974
Exhibited exhibition history	Die Kunst von Schwartz-Afrika, Kunsthaus, Zurich 31 October 1970–10 February 1971, K28, p.383, illus. p.161; Kunst am Niger, Villa Hugel, Essen, 25 March–13 June 1971, cat.1 p.26, no.75; cat.2, K28, p.164, illus.165; Kunst ujt Afrika, Haags G
Literature bibliography	Catalogue of the Pitt Rivers museum, Farnham, 1899, vol.6, p.1913; Lieutenant-General Pitt-Rivers, Antique Works of Art from Benin, London: private printing 1900 (reprinted 1974), plate XLVII, figs 372–73, p.94, illus. b&w; Felix von Luschan, Die Altertümer von Benin, Berlin and Leipzig:De Gruyter1919 (reprinted New York: Hacker Art Books 1968), vol.1, p.485, vol.3, pl.117, illus. b&w; Elsy Leuzinger, The Art of Black Africa , London: Studio Vista 1972, K30, pp.168–69, illus. b&w, as ‘collection: George Ortiz, Geneva’
Accession Number	74256

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Provenance

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