Provenance

5 events

Production

1504 (approximate) to 1550 (approximate)

The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.

Looted

February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to June 1899 (year approximate)

The object was looted by Ralph Denham Rayment Moor from Benin Kingdom.

Transfer

March 19, 1897 (day approximate)

The object was transferred from Ralph Denham Rayment Moor to British Foreign Office from Benin City to London.

Loan

September 7, 1897 to January 1898 (month approximate)

The object was loaned by British Foreign Office to the British Museum through Crown Agents for the Colonies in London.

Donation

January 15, 1898

The object was donated by British Foreign Office to the British Museum in London.

Institution data

British Museum

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2025-06-10

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Registration number object id	Af1898,0115.6
Additional IDs object id	294 (Foreign Office number)
PRN object id	EAF26472
Object Type designation	plaque
Description description	Relief plaque, lost-wax cast in brass. Narrow plaque, rectangular in form without side flanges. Background surface decorated with river leaf patterns and stippling. Depicts standing European (Portuguese) figure with long hair, holding a gun upright in left hand; crossguard sword in scabbard on left hip attached to baldric across chest. Figure wears brimmed helmet. Dressed in sleeveless doublet with short-sleeved patterned tunic below; knee-length pleated patterned 'skirt' and long decorated breeches.
Ethnic name (made by) ethnic attribution	Edo
Date	16thC-17thC
Production place production place	Made in: Benin City
Findspot place collected	Found/Acquired: Benin City
Materials material	brass
Technique production technique	lost-wax cast
Dimensions dimensions	Height: 40.00 cm~Width: 20.00 cm~Depth: 6.80 cm~Weight: 3.10 kg
Curator’s comments provenance	The relief brass plaques that used to decorate the Oba's (king's) palace are among the most well-known of all the royal arts of Benin. Although frequently described as 'Benin Bronzes' most plaques are made of leaded brass in various compositions. It is widely accepted that they date to the 16th-17th centuries. In the years prior to the British Expedition royal influence in Benin was increasingly under threat from rival powers, both internal and external, with a focus on economic power and control of the important trading monopolies. However, the court and palace remained the political and spiritual centre of the Benin Kingdom. Earlier accounts written by Europeans visiting the city describe its size and scale. The palace complex was set up around atrium courtyards; some had galleries with wooden pillars supporting the roof. Brass plaques, probably made in matching pairs, were fixed to these pillars. The Benin brass plaques represent a distinct and unique corpus of work, unparalleled elsewhere on the continent. They are cast using the cire perdue (lost wax) technique and show significant variation in the depth of the relief. Some of the plaques portray historical events or commemorate successful wars, while others are a vivid depiction of Benin court life and ritual. Several groups of plaques show clear stylistic similarities. William B. Fagg suggested that these plaques represent the work of master brass casters. Fagg, William, 1973, 'Nigerian Images', London: Lund Humphries Gunsch, Kathryn, 2018, 'Benin plaques: a 16th century imperial monument', London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group ; Read & Dalton 1899: European figure without a beard, wearing a round hat with brim, and dressed like Af1898.0115.5, except that he has no buttons on his coat. On his left shoulder he holds a matchlock, the match of which is wound round the left wrist, the end being held in the right hand. A baldric supports his sword, the hilt of which is elaborately constructed, but differs in type from the preceding examples.
Bibliographic references bibliography	Read & Dalton 1899: pl XII.6
Exhibition history exhibition history	Exhibited: 1970-1973, London, Museum of Mankind, Divine Kingship in Africa
Condition condition	Fair; top edge and right corner missing. Large sections missing from bottom edge and right and left sides. Hole in figure's chest.
Subjects iconography	european ~palace/mansion ~arms/armour
Associated events event	Associated Event: British Expedition to Benin City - Feb 1897
Acquisition name (acquisition) provenance	Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Acquisition date accession date	1898
Acquisition notes (excavation) provenance	This plaque was looted during the British Expedition to Benin City in 1897.

Sensitive Content

Digital Benin collates digital material from institutions, and some of this material is inherently colonial and contains words, terms and phrases that are inaccurate, derogatory and harmful towards African and African diasporic communities. Catalogue transcriptions, book titles, exhibition titles and museum titles may contain harmful terms. We recognise the potential for the material to cause physical and mental distress as well as evoke strong emotions. Owing to the scale of the collection’s data, a process to implement sensitive-content warnings in the displayed data is still incomplete. The material within the catalogue does not represent Digital Benin’s views. Digital Benin maintains a strong anti-colonial, anti-racist position and affirms its support for centring the humanity of historically marginalised and disenfranchised communities. Read more about the background of this statement here

Provenance

Related archival documents

Institution data