Benin Plaques
- Gallery: Room 25
- Made in: Benin City
- Date: 16thC-17thC
- Object type: plaque
- Materials: brass
- Museum number: Af1898,0115.1
- 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 is a Benin Plaque, a striking brass relief made in Benin City during the 16th to 17th centuries. You'll notice the intricate river leaf patterns and small dots adorning the surface—these geometric textures were carefully crafted using the ancient lost-wax casting method. The plaque itself is narrow and rectangular, with nail holes indicating it once hung proudly in a palace.
In the center stands a bearded European figure, likely a Portuguese trader or official, wearing a helmet with decorative rings and feathers. He holds a long weapon and wears a layered outfit that includes a tunic and skirt-like garment. Below his hand hangs a chain of manillas—copper bracelets once used as currency in West Africa.
In the corner stands a smaller figure, possibly from the Iwoki guild, armed with a matchlock and sword. These plaques were part of the royal palace's decoration, capturing both courtly life and foreign interactions. Today, their beauty and history continue to offer a fascinating glimpse into the Benin Kingdom.
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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