"The Asante Ewer is one of the most intriguing objects in the British Museum. Made in England in the 1300s, it was transported to Africa, where it was either carried by camel across the Sahara or taken on an early sea voyage around the west coast, eventually ending up in the Asante kingdom. In 1896 it was looted by British troops, along with two smaller ewers (one was taken in 1900), and returned to England."
"The three metal ewers (jugs) have been brought together and go on display today (24 October) at York Army Museum (until 21 February). The display is accompanied by other items seized by the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of West Yorkshire during the Anglo-Asante Wars, including a royal chair and sword. The ewers will then be shown, likely with a different set of objects, at the British Museum (5 March-7 July 2026). Accompanying the displays is an "object in focus" book by the curators."
The Asante Ewer is a 62cm-high, 19-litre bronze vessel made in England between 1340 and 1405, bearing the royal coat of arms and possibly made for Richard II. The ewer likely served wine at grand feasts and would have required two people to lift. The vessel was transported to the Asante kingdom in present-day Ghana by unknown means, possibly by camel caravan across the Sahara or by sea around the West African coast on Portuguese or Dutch ships. Two smaller ewers accompanied it; one was taken in 1900. British troops looted the ewers in 1896 and they later returned to England. The three ewers are displayed at York Army Museum and will be shown at the British Museum in 2026.
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