Art Funded by you

Portuguese crossbowman

Benin, c. 1550

British Museum, London

The crossbowman is in a dynamic and European-inspired pose and probably represents a Portuguese soldier. His knees are bent; he aims his weapon, wearing a sword at the left and a dagger at the right. Below this is a goat's foot lever for drawing the crossbow. This object was produced in the kingdom of Benin, part of Nigeria. It was a part of a large and varied collection of 30 works of ethnographic art, formed by W. O. Oldman, which the Art Fund presented to the nation on account of its 'exceptional merit'.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Portuguese crossbowman, c. 1550

Date supported

1949

Medium and material

Cast bronze

Dimensions

35 cm

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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