The Prince and the Plunder

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

Category: Military

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

Posted In Armour & apparel | Military | The Plunder
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Dhal Shield ‘believed captured’ during the campaign

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

What: A “Dhal shield” made of dished hide and metal

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

Status: Possible link to Maqdala. The description says it is believed to have been captured in the Abyssinian Campaign. The design is different from other shields taken during the campaign.

The database entry: describes a “Dhal shield, 1867-1868; made of dished hide and metal; four brass bosses, four crescents and decoratively shaped brass plaques; believed to have been captured in the Abyssinian Campaign (King Theodore) by Col C F James.

Another entry on the museum database has a photograph and describes: “Circular shield made of dished hide with the outer surface decorated with four brass bosses, four crescents and decoratively shaped brass plaques. The edge has an iron strip bounding it decorated with brass studs. The inside has a small cushion and four iron rings. The shield was reputedly captured by Captain Cornelius Francis (Frank) James, DAQMS with the expeditionary force, during the Abyssinian Campaign (1867-1868).

Museum accession number
Armour 1959-10-75

Posted In Military | Possible link to Maqdala | Shields | The Plunder
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Matchlock gun

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

What: Matchlock gun inlaid with brass and ivory, taken by the British Museum’s expert on the expedition, Richard Rivington Holmes

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

Provenance: Maqdala referenced at length in the museum’s acquisition notes.

The catalogue entry reads: “Matchlock gun (with octagonal barrel); wood (?) stock inlaid with brass and ivory.”

Details
Museum number Af1868,1001.27
Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Military | The Plunder | Weapons
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Shotel sword and sheath

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

What: A shotel sword and sheath taken by the British Museum’s expert on the expedition, Richard Rivington Holmes

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

Provenance: Maqdala referenced at length in the museum’s acquisition notes.

The catalogue entry reads:

“Shotel forged from iron with sickle shaped blade, carved wood hilt and circular, domed, cast [?] brass pommel. The pommel is attached to the hilt by a central iron nail.”

“Sheath for shotel made of leather, decorated on the outer surfaces with a layer of red saffian leather tooled with linear decorations. The sheath is stitched centrally along one side with leather thread using a herring bone stitch. The top edge of the opening is decorated with leather whip stitching. A leather belt with a large metal buckle is stitched to the top of the sheath with decorative green leather overstitching and bands of red leather. The pin of the buckle is engraved with a cruciform decorations.”

Details
Museum number: Af1868,1001.28.a and Af1868,1001.28.b
Date: 19thC
Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Military | The Plunder | Weapons
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Hide shield with charms

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

What: Shield with charms attached to the handle, taken by the British Museum’s expert on the expedition, Richard Rivington Holmes

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

Provenance: Maqdala referenced at length in the museum’s acquisition notes.

The catalogue entry reads:

“Shield made of hide, hippo or buffalo. The circular shield is domed with a central, integral boss and raised, rolled rim. The upper surface of the shield is decorated with a tooled linear pattern of concentric circles and a radial pattern around the boss. Two hide thongs pass through the front of the shield, secured with large knots either side of the boss securing the hide handle at the back. The handle is made of wood covered with hide. Attached to the handle, on a hide thong, are four small charm cases made of stitched cotton and leather. Around the rim of the shield are a series of seventeen holes. A hide thong is passed through two of these, knotted at the front, with a loop at the back. This is attached to the charms by a length of iron wire. One other hide thong is knotted through one of the holes, the other end is broken.”

Detail
Museum number: Af1868,1001.32
Date: 19thC
Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Military | Shields | The Plunder
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Bridle with silver discs *

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

What: A bridle, given by Secretary of State for India, Sir Stafford Henry Northcote

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

The catalogue entry reads:

“Bridle, comprised of reins, curb bit and headgear made of leather and iron. The reins are made of plaited leather decorated at the top with an elaborate leather coil. They are attached to the curb bit by a series of knots. The bit, made of iron, has two parts, a “u” shaped bar which rests on the animals tongue and a moveable ring which goes around the animals lower jaw. The leather headgear is attached to the bit by a series of leather loops and knots. The headgear consists of two cheek bands and a nose band; each decorated with two silver discs with elaborate conical bosses and punched design around the edge and one rectangular silver ornament with daisy motif and a punched design. The cheek bands are further decorated where they attach to the bit with leather embroidery.”

Details:
Museum number: Af1868,1230.13
Date: 19thC(mid)
Acquisition name: Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Horse tack | Military | The Plunder
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