Benin Plaques
- Gallery: Room 25
- Made in: Benin City
- Date: 16thC-17thC
- Object type: plaque
- Materials: brass
- Museum number: Af1898,0115.49
- 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.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
"Before you is a brass relief plaque from Benin City, created between the 16th and 17th centuries. This rectangular plaque, with decorative side flanges and a textured background, features a detailed battle scene. At the center stands a high-ranking warrior, bearded and richly dressed, holding a sword and capturing an enemy on horseback. Around him, a drummer, a hornblower, and another warrior add energy to the scene. The captive shows signs of injury, with a gash across his chest and leopard’s tooth necklace.
The plaque was made using the complex lost-wax casting method, a hallmark of royal Benin art. These brass plaques once decorated the palace of the Oba, the king. Today, this one offers a rare, vivid glimpse into the history and culture of the Benin Kingdom. Its composition of leaded brass, intricate details, and storytelling style are unique and historically significant."
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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