Pendant

Miniature brass pendants of this kind are modelled on ancient stone axes found by chance in the soil. Edo speakers call these polished stone axes ughavan, or ‘thunderbolts’. Some Edo maintain that stone axes are found where lightning has struck and that they possess spiritual forces. This miniature pendent was purchased as a set with others from the well-known dealer William Downing Webster. Many of the works from Benin that Webster sold to museums from 1898 to 1901 were purchased either from auctions or directly from British soldiers who took part in the British military assault against Benin in February 1897.