The Prince and the Plunder

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

Tag: British Museum

Censer

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

What: A censer with a small piece of corrosion, 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:

“Censer cast in bronze in two parts; a square bodied container on pyramidal base and an arched, open work lid. The body of the container which has a Ge’ez inscription on one side, has a suspension ring on each corner and one centrally placed on three sides of the rim, one is missing. Three chains pass through the centrally placed rings to corresponding rings on the top of the lid securing it in place. One chain is missing. The chains, with multiple round bells are attached to a hollow, cast handle. A square patch on the top of the lid indicates a missing finial. The inner surface of censer is encrusted with burnt incense.”

Partial inscription translation:
This [..] was given for Aba Tekle Haymanot […]

Detail: 
Museum number: Af1868,1001.14
Condition: Patch of corrosion and small hole to one side of container.
Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Censers & sistrums | Sacred artefacts | The Plunder
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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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Silver gilt drinking cup

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

What: Silver gilt drinking cup 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:

“Drinking cup made of silver gilt with narrower base tapering to a wider rim. The cup is formed from one sheet of repoussé worked silver, soldered along one length and to a circular base of pain silver. The outer surface is decorated with round topped columns of alternating plain, chevron and lozenged shaped decorations. Additional crescent and circular motifs have been punched onto the surface.”

Details
Museum number: Af1868,1001.9
Date: 19thC
Diameter: 10.5 cm
Height: 12.5 cm
Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Drinking vessels | Royal regalia | The Plunder
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Seed necklace

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

What: Seed necklace with Venetian beads 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: “Necklace of brown seeds, eight large Venetian polychrome beads, two blue faceted beads, one amber bead, a carved mother of pearl bead and a small moulded black bead strung onto blue cotton cord.”

Detail
Museum number: Af1868,1001.30
Date: 19thC
Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1/10/1868

Posted In Clothes & ornaments | Miscellaneous | The Plunder
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Bead necklace with bell

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

What: A blue bead necklace with bell 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: “Necklace made of faceted, mid blue, glass beads threaded onto a leather thong. Attached to the thong with elaborate leather knotwork is a cast, brass bell. At the top of the necklace, stitched to the thong with paler leather, is coil of leather.

Detail
Museum number: Af1868,1001.29
Date: 19thC
Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Clothes & ornaments | The Plunder
Tagged

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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