Benin Plaques
- Gallery: Room 25
- Made in: Benin City
- Date: 16thC-17thC
- Object type: plaque
- Materials: brass
- Museum number: Af1898,0115.86
- 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 remarkable brass plaque from Benin City, Nigeria, dating to the 16th or 17th century. You'll notice the rich relief carved into the brass, with intricate patterns of river leaves and tiny dots covering the background.
At the center, a powerful figure stands with a sword raised in one hand and a spear in the other. His body carries marks of diagonal-dot scarification, and he wears a beaded crown and multiple necklaces, including one made from leopard’s teeth. Around him, two warriors flank the central figure, holding shields and spears. Their elaborate helmets and armor highlight their importance.
Look closely at the smaller figures below—some hold unusual objects like a circular fan or a sheathed sword. Above them, hornblowers stand out with tiered hairstyles and beaded necklaces. A larger foot peeking out suggests a figure broken away long ago.
Cast using the ancient lost-wax method, this plaque was once part of the royal palace of the Oba, or king. These artworks offer a fascinating window into the rich court culture of 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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