Benin Edo People, bronze ceremonial staff, 19th c. Nigeria, in two pieces, naturally dark and verdigris patinated cast bronze, in a stacked totemic form, the round standard surmounted by a long beaked bird surrounded by petals mounted with lizards and snakes, over male figure with outstretched oversized hands, with snakes wrapped around his shoulders, over a similar figure carrying a rooster, a second piece depicts a human figure with a neolithic celt in one hand and human-headed staff, small figures stacked below, the larger mounted to custom black metal stand, 42.5"l (larger part of staff), 44"h (on stand) x 5"w x 7"d, 8"squ (base), 16"l x 4"w x 5"d (short separated section of staff)

Provenance: Property from the Estate of Martin Wright; Collected during the British Punitive Expedition to Benin City, 1897
William Downing Webster, Bicester
Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, Rushmore, Dorset, acquired from the above on August 13, 1898
Alexander Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, by descent from the above Captain George Pitt-Rivers, by descent from the above by 1927 Stella Howson-Clive (Pitt-Rivers), by descent from the above by 1966
Merton D. Simpson, New York, presumably acquired from the above via K. John Hewett, London
Acquired from the above on January 26, 1968, and July 25, 1968

Notes/Literature: General Fox-Pitt-Rivers, Catalogues of his Collections, 1882- 1898
Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, Antique Works of Art from Benin Collectedby Lieutenant-GeneralPitt-Rivers, London, 1900, pl. 45, figs. 354-355

Good/Fair, undisturbed fine aged patina, showing oxidation and white deposits in crevices, in two pieces an possibly broken **Condition reports are rendered as specialist opinion by the staff of the Auction House and not as statements of fact. We do not guarantee the content of written or verbal condition reports. The absence of a condition report does not imply that there are no condition issues with the lot. Please call us at (973) 377-1500 or e-mail info@milleabros.com with any questions about this lot at least 24 hours prior to auction.