During the British expeditionto Benin City (Edo) in 1897 objects made of brass, bronze, ivory, coral, and wood were looted by British soldiers from the royal palace, its storerooms, and compounds. Some of these objects were sold or exchanged in West Africa. However, many were brought to the UK where they were retained by soldiers of the expeditionand subsequently inherited by thier families; put up for auction; or donated, lent, or sold to museums. See Collection File: Af1897,-.498-563.
Plankensteiner 2007: On the plaque a war chief, whose identity can not be determined, is depicted in his ceremonial war dress. The medicine container visible on his chest and arms provides protection in battle. He holds his ceremonial sword, eben, in his right hand and on the left a throwing spear. The eben is a sign of his status as a chief. At palace ceremonies, it is tossed in the air to honour the Oba. The leopard-had designed body armour is a ceremonial outfit worn at events such as the annual war festival Isiokuo. Only one example of such a leopard-faced body armour has survived in a museum collection. It has been brought back by Captain William A. Cockburn, a member of the Benin Expeditionand sold to the British Museum in 1897. This warrior’s tunic is worn by the Oba’s military chiefs during military festivals such as Isiokuo. Leopard-head ornaments in bronze are badges of honour bestowed upon war chiefs, serving as both protective devices and as symbols of the power over life and death that the Oba has delegated to them. A Benin proverb says. ‘it is the head of the leopard that accomplishes things for the leopard’, which has special meaning for the war chiefs, as the Oba, who is ‘the leopard of the home’, will rely on them for the prosecution of his wars. All Oba’s military chiefs wear this special leather tunic covered with red wool flannel. In addition the military chides can also be identified by their leopard-tooth necklaces and the shield bearing warriors that often accompany them. The appliquéd leopard faces on the costumes of Benin warriors refer to the dangerous aspects of the Oba’s nature, and provide protection to the warriors. On the ivory staff a warrior chief on a horse-back with the same attire as the one on the plaque is depicted. It was used by the Iyase, the generalissimo of the Benin army as an emblem of identity, indicating his status, state duties and military position.~Picton & Mack 1989: 'A wool and hide ceremonial tunic, Benin, Nigeria. Imported red flannel has been applied over a rawhide base and small brass bells attached. Tunics such as this can be seen in brass plaques of the 16th and 17th centuries where they are being worn at the Benin court. The present example probably dates from the 19th century.'
Exhibited: 1970-1973, London, Museum of Mankind, Divine Kingship in Africa 1993-1997, London, Museum of Mankind, Great Benin: a West African Kingdom 2007 May-Sept, Vienna, Museum für Völkerkunde, Benin. Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria 2007-2008 Oct-Jan, Paris, Musée du quai Branly, Benin. Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria 2008 Feb-May, Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ethnologisches Museum, Benin. Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria 2008 Jun-Sept, Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, Benin. Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria