Antique Works of Art from Benin Collected by Lieutenant-General Pitt Rivers

"Antique Works of Art from Benin" by Augustus Henry Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The publication focuses on the intricate art and artifacts recovered from Benin City following the punitive expedition of 1897 conducted by British forces. The book provides insights into the cultural significance of these works and their historical context, alluding to the influence of European contact on Benin's sophisticated art forms. The opening portion of this work introduces the early interactions between European nations, particularly the Portuguese, and the Kingdom of Benin, detailing its vibrant civilization before British colonial intervention. It recounts the disastrous expedition of 1896, which ended in tragedy, and the subsequent military campaign that led to the looting of exquisite artworks, primarily in brass, bronze, and ivory. Through a brief examination of artifacts, including plaques depicting warriors and various ceremonial objects, the introduction reveals their ceremonial use and connection to local beliefs, providing a foundation for understanding the advanced artistry of Benin culture and its implications in a colonial narrative. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Lieutenant General Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers was an English officer in the British Army, ethnologist, and archaeologist. He was noted for innovations in archaeological methodology, and in the museum display of archaeological and ethnological collections. His international collection of about 22,000 objects was the founding collection of the Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford while his collection of English archaeology from the area around Stonehenge forms the basis of the collection at The Salisbury Museum in Wiltshire.