The bronze ewers from the court of King Richard II recovered from Ghana

Today is the anniversary of the birth in Bordeaux in 1367 of the future King Richard II. I wrote about that event in 2017 at Birth of King Richard II and with additional reflections in 2022 at The birth of King Richard II

I have also written before on this site about the substantial bronze ewer from the household of King Richard II which was unexpectedly discovered in late nineteenth century Ghana amongst the treasures of the Asante and brought back to this country. How and when it travelled to west Africa is not known and doubtless irrecoverable as a story. A distinct possibility is that it was as part the maritime triangular slave trade which developed from the late sixteenth century. Another possibility is that it and its companion pieces were carried from the Barbary Coast across the Sahara at some point. Clearly appreciated by the Asante it became, appropriately enough, part of the royal treasure. Today it can now be seen on display in the British Museum.

I must admit I was unaware that there are two others from the same discovery which are on display in other British collections. The Art Newspaper recently reported that all three are to be reunited for an exhibition in 2024. The illustrated report about this can be seen at The long and curious journey of the British Museum's Asante Ewer