Benin Plaques
- Gallery: Room 25
- Made in: Benin City
- Date: 16thC-17thC
- Object type: plaque
- Materials: brass
- Museum number: Af1898,0115.3
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
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About this object
This relief plaque is part of the renowned Benin Plaques collection, crafted using the lost-wax method in brass. It shows a European figure, likely Portuguese, dressed in elaborate clothing and wearing a spiked helmet. His beard, mustache, and long hair suggest European style, while his weapon and costume reflect both foreign and Benin influences.
Look closely at the background—its surface is decorated with intricate river leaf patterns and small dots. This decorative technique shows highly refined artistic skill. The figure’s costume includes a doublet, long-sleeved tunic, and detailed breeches, all hinting at the importance of appearance and rank.
These plaques once lined the pillars of the royal palace in Benin City. Made in the 16th to 17th centuries, they capture aspects of court life and history. Created by master Edo brass casters, they remain a symbol of artistic excellence. Many arrived in the UK after the British Expedition of 1897.
See it in person
Benin Plaques is on display in Room 25 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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