The Prince and the Plunder

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

Tag: British Museum

European sabre in Ethiopian sheath *

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

What: A European sabre in a custom-made Ethiopian sheath, 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 for the sabre reads: “Sabre with single edged, curved steel blade with central fuller. The hilt is made of iron with a leather [?] grip, scrolled quillian and iron pommel with small central boss.”

Inscription:
WCOLLE
SARGANT FAIRFAX

Curator’s comments: The sabre of European manufacture, is similar to those used by light infantry during the 19th century.

The catalogue entry for the sheath reads:

“Swords of European manufacture were highly valued and the quatlity of this sheath made for a Europen blade suggests that it was owned by someone of high rank. The fine filigree work lomita is a sign that the owner sucessfully pursued enemies in flight (Coates 1909) and would have been a reward for bravery. This particular style of sheath is often depicted in Ethiopian paintings of nobility.”

Detail
Museum number: Af1868,1230.11.a and Af1868,1230.11.b
Date: 19thC
Acquisition name: Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Military | The Plunder | Weapons
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Communion cup bowl *

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

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

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

Provenance: In the catalogue, it is associated with the Siege of Magdala 1868

The catalogue entry reads: “Bowl from a chalice or communion cup made of silver”

Curator’s comments: The bowl is probably part of a chalice or communion cup used during the Eucharist to contain communion wine.

Details
Museum number: Af1868,1230.1
Acquisition name: Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Chalices & vessels | Sacred artefacts | The Plunder
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Belt of silver panels and chains *

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

What: A belt of silver panels and chains, 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: 

“Belt consisting of three silver, oblong panels interconnected by thirteen rows of silver chains. Each of the panels is decorated in a different style; with two tubular hollow silver ornaments, with four bands of repoussé and wirework, with a single tubular silver ornament and punched design. There is possibly some gilding on the panels. The chains are attached to the panels by being threaded onto a brass[?] pin which passes through a series of fourteen loops on the edge of each panel. The ends of the pins are bent to secure them in place. A length of hide is attached to a wire-work ring which is soldered to one of the panels.

Detail
Museum number: Af1868,1230.15
Date: 19thC
Acquisition name: Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh 
Acquisition date: 30/12/1868

Posted In Adornments & jewelry | The Plunder
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Silver gilt paten inscribed with the emperor’s name

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

What: A silver gilt paten, inscribed with the emperor’s name, 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 mentioned at length in acquisition notes. Paten marked with Tewodros’s name.

The catalogue entry reads:

“Paten made of silver gilt engraved with holy images on uppermost surface and Ge’ez inscriptions around the rim. In the centre of the paten is the representation of Christ as the sacrificial lamb, to the left is the Virgin Mary with a cross on her mantle and an elaborate halo. She kneels before the lamb; tears are shown on her face and her hands are raised in grief. To the right are two identical bearded men in tears, with hands raised in grief. Below the lamb is a semi prostrate figure of a man in priest’s robes. Around the edge of the paten are eleven figures which represent Christ’s followers, all bearded and wearing hooded priests’ robes. Around the internal surface of the raised rim are seven angels.”

Inscription Translation: “This paten […] (for the) house of Mary was given by Emperor Tewodros for the deliverance of his body and soul.”

Detail
Museum number: Af1868,1001.11
Field Collection by: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Chalices & vessels | Sacred artefacts | Said to belong to Tewodros | The Plunder
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Sacred church hanging, described as the largest tablet-woven textile in the world

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

What: A woven silk hanging, described as the largest of its kind in the world, used to conceal the entrance to the Holy of Holies of an Ethiopian church, 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 mentioned at length in acquisition notes

The hanging shows “woven depictions of Ethiopian crowned figures, religious attendants and armed guards on a carefully arranged background filled with geometric patterning,” according to Martha H. Henze’s 2007 paper “Studies of Imported Textiles in Ethiopia” in the Journal of Ethiopian Studies.

“This single panel measures 504 cm in length and varies in width between 54 and 62 cm,” she adds.

The British Museum catalogue entry reads: 

“This cloth was designed as the central section of a triptych which would have screened the inner sanctum, maqdas, from the main body of an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian church … This is the largest tablet-woven textile in the world …  It is woven entirely of imported Chinese silk, and the figures that appear on it are depicted in such detail that the soldiers can be seen to be carrying firearms of Indian manufacture. The event commemorated is probably the lying-in-state of King Bakaffa (reigned 1722-30). Bakaffa, Mentaub, his wife, and their young son Iyasu are all depicted wearing the plaited band of blue silk, matab, which was a symbol of their Christian faith.”

References:
C. Spring and J. Hudson, Silk in Africa (London, The British Museum Press, 2002)
C.J. Spring and J. Hudson, North African textiles (London, The British Museum Press, 1995) See file in Eth Doc 439 in AOA Archives on transfer of these objects from former Medieval & Later Dept.
Less
Bibliography: Spring & Hudson 2002 p.2 bibliographic details

Exhibited:
1995-96, London, Museum of Mankind (Room 4), ‘Secular and Sacred’
2008-2009 29 Sep-05 Apr, New York, Metropolitan Museum, The Essential Art of African Textiles: Design Without End
2012 April-July, Manarat Al Saadayat,Abu Dhabi, Treasures of the world’s cultures

Detail
Museum number: Af1868,1001.22
Field Collection by: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Hangings | Sacred artefacts | The Plunder
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Silver and gold communion cup inscribed with the emperor’s name

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

What: A silver and gold communion cup, inscribed with Emperor Tewodros’ name, 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 mentioned at length in acquisition notes. Cup marked with Tewodros’s name.

The catalogue entry reads:

“Communion chalice made of silver and gilded with gold on the interior surface. The chalice has a wide circular base with a finely crenulated edge, a tall octagonal stem with three convex bands of moulding with wire work decoration and a crenulated rim with ge’ez inscription.”

Inscription Translation: This eucharist chalice for Jesus […] was given by Emperor Tewodros for the salvation of his body and soul.

Detail
Museum number: Af1868,1001.8
Field Collection by: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes biography
Acquisition date: 1868

Posted In Chalices & vessels | Sacred artefacts | Said to belong to Tewodros | The Plunder
Tagged