Edo, Kingdom of Benin
Nigeria
Coastal West Africa
Plaque
INV-1545
Edo, Kingdom of Benin
Nigeria
Coastal West Africa16th/17th century
edo (african)Arts of AfricaCoastal West Africaafrican Artplaque (flat object)metal
Date
16th/17th century
Medium
Brass
Dimensions
35 × 31.2 × 7 cm (13 3/4 × 12 1/4 × 2 3/4 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Samuel P. Avery Fund
During the 16th century, coastal trade made brass amply available in the Kingdom of Benin. King Esigie (reigned about 1504–about 1550) exploited the inflow by commissioning his court’s brass casters to make commemorative plaques for his palace. The warrior depicted here wears a coral-studded cap and collar indicating his rank. The horseshoe shape in the upper left corner represents a copper or brass ring known as a manilla. Manufactured in Europe, such rings were used as currency among the Benin people.
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