The Prince and the Plunder

A book on how Britain took one boy and piles of treasures from Ethiopia

Category: Armour & apparel

Water jug made from gauntlet ‘acquired during the assault and capture of Magdala’

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A water jug made from a gauntlet “worn by a Chief who was disarmed by Captain Stanley de B Edwardes DAQMG at the Capture of Magdala”

Where: The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT

The database entry includes a picture and describes a “water jug made from a gauntlet acquired by Captain Stanley de Burgh Edwardes during the assault and capture of Magdala, Abyssinia, 1868. Silver, made in Abyssinia and India, 1868.”

The base is inscribed with: “Abyssinian Expedition the body of this jug was a gauntlet worn by a Chief who was disarmed by Captain Stanley de B Edwardes DAQMG at the Capture of Magdala Abyssinia on Easter Sunday, 1868′.

The database says General Sir Stanley de Burgh Edwardes (1840-1918) served as Deputy-Assistant-Quarter-Master-General during the Abyssinian Expedition and participated in the assault and capture of Magdala.

NAM Accession Number
NAM. 1957-06-24-1

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Borrett’s ring

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A ring taken off a dead Ethiopian soldier’s finger after the Battle of Aroge, April 10 1868

Where: King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, Market Square, Lancaster, LA1 1HT

The museum entry reads: Ring taken from a dead Abyssinian soldier by Lieutenant Borrett.

Accession Number: KO0467/04

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A silver and silver gilt gauntlet

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: A silver and gilded silver gauntlet, said to have belonged to Emperor Tewodros

Where: The Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL

The catalogue entry has three images and reads: “This arm defence was looted a British colonel after British troops stormed the Fortress of Magdala (Maqdala), Ethiopia, on 13 April 1868 to rescue foreign hostages held by the Emperor Tewodros. A note in the Museum register records that the object was ‘stated by the vendor to have been taken at the siege of Magdala, 1868, by Col. Macnaghten, Bombay Cavalry and to have been the property of King Theodore’. The V&A bought the armlet in 1922, for £12, from Mrs Louisa Macnaghten.”

Museum number:
M.140-1922

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Soldier’s silver anklet

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: An anklet, with incised ornament, “worn by soldiers”, bought from Major Holland

Where: The Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL

The catalogue entry reads: “Anklet. Silver with incised ornament, worn by soldiers. Abyssinian. Price £1.0.0. Purchased from Major Holland. Date of receipt from stores 26th April 1869…

“The vendor may have been Major Trevenen James Holland who, with a military colleague, Sir Henry Montague Hozier, provided the only official account of the expedition on the orders of the Secretary of State for War. Their Record of the Expedition to Abyssinia was published in two volumes in 1870.”

Museum number:
1731-1869

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Napier’s leopard skin cape, ‘taken at Magdala’

Published June 18, 2024 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: An “Abyssinian warrior’s leopard skin cape” that was presented to Robert Napier, the commander of the British force.

Where: The Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Rd, Gillingham ME7 1UR

The catalogue entry publishes five pictures of what it describes as an “Abyssinian warrior’s leopard skin cape comprising of a central section which is highly decorated with gold cylindrical elements and stylised floral metal elements around the collar”. It says there is a silver badge attached that reads: “Taken at Magdala April 13th 1868. Presented to Lord Napier at Magdala by Her Majesty’s Government.”

Details
Object number: 1203.2.4
Dimensions: 920 mm, 400 mm

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A piece of armour last seen in Leeds

Published August 30, 2022 / by Andrew Heavens / Leave a Comment

What: “A fragment of chain armour”

Where: Unknown

Part of the catalogue for the National Exhibition of Works of Art in Leeds

Description

One of 21 artefacts from the Abyssinian expedition put on show at the National Exhibition of Works of Art in Leeds in 1868

According to the exhibition’s catalogue, it was lent by Private T. Goodwin , 3rd Dragoons, from Leeds. There are no details on what happened to it after the show closed in October that year.

Sources

National Exhibition of Works of Art, at Leeds, 1868 : official catalogue

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