- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Sansa. A flat board of soft wood with burnt and incised ornamental border, and two sets of eight cane keys.
- Long description
- A flat board of soft wood with burnt and incised ornamental border. 2 groups of 8 cane tongues, fastened down with cane lacing and bridged up with strips towards the ends, side by side near centre of board.
- Cultural groups
- Edo
- Person
- Field collector Unknown Collector
- Other owner Stevens Auction Rooms
- PRM source Cuthbert Edgar Peek
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1900
- Date collected
- 1897
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1900
- Materials and processes
- Material Wood Plant, Material Cane Plant, Process Carpentered, Process Tied, Process Decorated, Process Pyroengraved Pokerwork, Process Incised, Process Perforated
- Dimensions
- Length x Width 410 x 196 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1900.1.5
- Research and responses
This object is one of two sansas purchased by Sir Cuthbert Edgar Peek on 13th February 1900 at Stevens Auction Rooms (see 1900.1.4 for the other). The sale was advertised as a "Valuable Collection of Benin Bronzes, Curiosities &c....magnificent BRONZES from Benin, some of the finest ever offered, consisting of masks, plaques, two fine leopards' heads, armlets, bells, boxes, also finely carved ivory tusks, &c..." ("Sales by Auction", The Times, Saturday 10th February 1900). In the same month Peek donated the two objects to the Pitt Rivers Museum. It is possible he bought them on behalf of the Museum. [JMC 10/03/2023]
- Associated publications
- Apparently indexed but not listed as B9/26 in Philip J. C. Dark, An Illustrated Catalogue of Benin Art, Boston, MA: G. K. Hall, 1982.
Search terms: Music, Musical Instrument, Lamellophone