Af1898,0115.5

plaque

Benin Plaques

Series

Following the British occupation of Benin City (Edo) in 1897 objects made of brass, ivory and wood were looted by British forces from the royal palace, its storerooms and compounds. Some of these objects were sold or exchanged on the coast. However, many were brought to the UK where they were sold through private auction, donated to museums, or retained by soldiers of the expedition. The British Museum successfully petitioned the government to secure some of the relief plaques and over 300 were sent to the UK by the Consul-General [Sir] Ralph Moor and placed at the Foreign Office. During the summer of 1897 the Crown Agents for the Colonies, on behalf of the Foreign Office, agreed a temporary loan of 304 plaques to the British Museum. In September these were placed on public display in the Assyrian basement where they attracted considerable public attention. The Museum initially received 203 of these plaques as a gift from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. In the summer of 1898 a further eleven plaques were sent to the British Museum from the Foreign Office and three of these were selected by the Museum and were subsequently presented as a gift. Of the remaining plaques the Foreign Office retained eight and the rest were offered for sale to major museums, collectors and private dealers in Europe and the UK. Today over nine hundred plaques are known to exist in museums and private collections around the world. See Collection File: Af1898,0115.1-203 (previously Eth.Doc.185).

Relief plaque, lost-wax cast in brass. Wide plaque, rectangular in form with side flanges. Background surface decorated with river leaf patterns and stippling. Rosettes in relief in each corner. Two nail holes at top of plaque, two holes at bottom. Depicts standing European (Portuguese) figure with long hair, beard and moustache holding a partisan (weapon with long shaft and trilobe spear blade) in right hand; crossguard sword in scabbard on left hip attached to baldric across chest. Figure wears helmet with boss at top. Dressed in sleeveless doublet, with short-sleeved patterned tunic below and knee-length pleated patterned 'skirt'.

brass

H~W~X

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cm~cm~cm

51.00~39.00~8.00

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16thC-17thC

lost-wax cast

Benin City

M

Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State for

D

This plaque was looted during the British Expedition to Benin City in 1897.

F

Benin City

M

Edo

E

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 with a conspicuous moustache. He wears a surcoat with buttons on both sides, and on his shoulders are visible the short sleeves of his jerkin. The hilt of his sword is of very elaborate construction, with quillons and guard of peculiar form. He holds in his right hand a pike with trefoil head. In each corner is a rosette in relief.

Exhibited: 1965, Oxford, Pitt Rivers Museum, Art from the Guinea Coast 1970-1973, London, Museum of Mankind, Divine Kingship in Africa

Read & Dalton 1899

pl XII.5

Good; missing sections from top corners and from along bottom edge. Damage to figure's legs.

299489001;1613626671

299

Foreign Office number

Previous owner/ex-collection number

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european~palace/mansion~arms/armour

1898