BENIN BRACELET

Late 19th century and likely part of the loot taken by the British after the Benin Punitive Expedition of 1897 which marked the end of the Benin Kingdom. Bronze, 2 ¼” width of C form with basket weave motif central member. Triangular sides flanked by raised basket weave bands and knobbed edges. Made by the lost wax process. The Benin were masters of bronze casting. Early examples including Oba heads and the wall panels from the royal palace are valued in the high hundreds of thousands. The Punitive Expedition was in retaliation for the massacre of an earlier expedition led by Council-General James Phillips whose purpose was to depose the king who had resisted colonization. The Punitive Expedition burned most of the important buildings in Benin and looted ivory and bronze art, the majority of which was sold at auction in London May 25, 1897 and Bicester, NW of London, 1898-1900. Ex: Christies, London, Tribal Art Sale #1429, Dec 3, 1985 Lot. 48