Registration number
Af1944,04.8
Institution
British Museum
Edo designations
English designations
Relief Plaque
Categories
Palace Architecture & Ornamentation
Location
Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG, United Kingdom
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Relief Plaque
Relief Plaque

Iconographies

4 annotations
Colar Bead
Odigba
Coral beaded collar

Odigba (coral-beaded collar) is a rigid neck collar made of coral beads, worn as part of ceremonial attire only by senior princes who have been made Enigie (Inneh 2007, p. 107). Although Ibafe (2007, p. 43) argued that the Odigba was introduced during the Ogiso period (c. 900–c. 1170 AD) by Ogiso Ere, along with other symbolically important Emwin Arhe, such as the Ada (ceremonial sword) and the Ẹbẹn (ceremonial sword), this seems unlikely, as coral was only introduced in the late 15th century through trade with Portuguese merchants.

1 annotation
Odigba
Water fern
Ebe Amẹ
Water Fern

Ebe Amẹ refers to a wide variety of plants, particularly the leaves of the water fern or river leaf, found in riverine areas of southern Nigeria ( ). Artists from the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn used these as a decorative motif in the background of most Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques). The petals of the Ebe Amẹ, like the points of the ἀghàdàgháda (crossroads), represent the four cardinal directions: north, east, south, and west. The number four plays a foundational role in the Edo calendar, which is structured around four market days ( ).

1 annotation
Ebe Amẹ
Ėwùϙsዕtợ
Long gown

Ėwùϙsዕtỏ is the Edo term for a long, woven garment (Ọbazee 2025, p. 144). The Osuan, the high priest of Uwen, and the Ooton may both wear the Ėwùϙsዕtỏ, making it difficult to distinguish between the two figures based on their attire alone. In depictions on Aken'ni Elao, figures identified as Ooton are more commonly represented than the Osuan specifically ( ). Both figures are also depicted holding Unwẹnrhiẹnọtan (switches) alongside the Ėwùϙsዕtỏ.

Today, neither the Osuan nor the Ooton wears the long gown, although both are associated with a distinctive hairstyle ( ). On ivory and brass Emwin Arhe (royal treasures), the Ooton or Osuan is depicted wearing the Ėwùϙsዕtỏ with his left hand placed on his chest, over a bulge beneath the gown. This bulge is understood to conceal the jawbone of the deceased Iyasẹ, which the Ooton wears. According to Barbara Blackmun ( ), because the Iyasẹ was the leader of the opposition to the Ọba, the jawbone became the “locus of the Iyasẹ’s disturbing dissent as he voices disagreement.” As a result, the Iyasẹ’s family was required to give the jawbone to members of the Ooton guild, who kept it in the royal palace.

1 annotation
Ėwùϙsዕtợ
Unwẹnrhiẹnọtan
Switch

The Unwẹnrhiẹnọtan (switch) is made from branches of a tall shrub and is held by the Ọba and certain chiefs, such as the Osuan and Ooton, during sacrificial rituals and ceremonies, particularly Ugie Erha Ọba (B ). Figures carrying Unwẹnrhiẹnọtan are depicted in brass on the Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques) and also carved in ivory on the Aken'ni Elao (altar tusk).

According to Barbara Blackmun ( ), the Unwẹnrhiẹnọtan “is required whenever the sacrifice of a living creature takes place within the Ọba’s palace complex, to drive away intrusive spiritual forces. The upright position of this essential implement suggests that the person who holds it is about to preside over a sacrificial ceremony.”

1 annotation
Unwẹnrhiẹnọtan

Provenance

6 events
Production
1504 (approximate) to 1550 (approximate)
The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.
Looted
February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to June 1899 (year approximate)
The object was looted by Unknown member of the British colonial military campaign on Benin - February 1897 from Benin Kingdom.
Unknown
February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to January 11, 1899 (day approximate)
The object is known to have come into contact with William Downing Webster, later in Bicester.
Purchase
January 11, 1899 (day approximate)
The object was purchased by Tor Åke Johan Sjögren from William Downing Webster from Bicester to Stockholm.
Purchase
July 13, 1928
The object was purchased by Cranmore Ethnographical Museum, Irene Marguerite Beasley and Harry Geoffrey Beasley from Tor Åke Johan Sjögren from Stockholm to Chislehurst.
Donation
some day in April 1944
The object was donated by Irene Marguerite Beasley to the British Museum from Chislehurst to British Museum.

Related archival documents

2 documents
See all
An archival document representing a Correspondence of 2 page(s)
Correspondence
Statens museer för världskultur
Sjögren, Åke
Date
January 9, 1900
An archival document representing a Inventories of 404 page(s)
Inventory
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Stock books
Date
January 18, 1897 to March 26, 1900

Institution data

British Museum
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2025-06-10
Language: english
Institution fieldValue
Registration number
object id
Af1944,04.8
Additional IDs
object id
6249 (William Webster number)~Y2/19 (Dark: Benin catalogue number)
PRN
object id
EAF18200
Object Type
designation
plaque
Description
description
Relief plaque, lost-wax cast in brass. Narrow plaque, rectangular in form without side flanges. Background surface decorated with river leaf patterns and stippling. Two nail holes at top right and centre; partial hole at top left; two holes midway at left and right; two holes at bottom left and centre. Depicts single standing figure of the Ehioba, facing front, holding a forked switch aloft in right hand. Has partially shaved head with tiered hairstyle on either side, central lock at front and curled side plait at left. Triangular mark down nose. Oro protrusion attached to top of head. Wears deep beaded collar, full-length, long-sleeved patterned gown, and bracelets.
Ethnic name (made by)
ethnic attribution
Edo
Date
16thC-17thC (circa)
Production place
production place
Made in: Benin City
Findspot
place collected
Found/Acquired: Benin City
Materials
material
brass
Technique
production technique
lost-wax cast
Dimensions
dimensions
Height: 47.50 cm~Width: 22.00 cm~Depth: 6.00 cm
Curator’s comments
provenance
The relief brass plaques that used to decorate the Oba's (king's) palace are among the most well-known of all the royal arts of Benin. Although frequently described as 'Benin Bronzes' most plaques are made of leaded brass in various compositions. It is widely accepted that they date to the 16th-17th centuries. In the years prior to the British royal influence in Benin was increasingly under threat from rival powers, both internal and external, with a focus on economic power and control of the important trading monopolies. However, the court and palace remained the political and spiritual centre of the Benin Kingdom. Earlier accounts written by Europeans visiting the city describe its size and scale. The palace complex was set up around atrium courtyards; some had galleries with wooden pillars supporting the roof. Brass plaques, probably made in matching pairs, were fixed to these pillars. The Benin brass plaques represent a distinct and unique corpus of work, unparalleled elsewhere on the continent. They are cast using the cire perdue (lost wax) technique and show significant variation in the depth of the relief. Some of the plaques portray historical events or commemorate successful wars, while others are a vivid depiction of Benin court life and ritual. Several groups of plaques show clear stylistic similarities. William B. Fagg suggested that these plaques represent the work of master brass casters. Fagg, William, 1973, 'Nigerian Images', London: Lund Humphries Gunsch, Kathryn, 2018, 'Benin plaques: a 16th century imperial monument', London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group ; The Beasley Collection ledger reads: 'Benin. A Bronze Plaque, of a single figure carrying a double pointed spear? + dressed in a long one piece garment decorated with a punched and incised design. Wearing a coral choker + curious pointed head dress. 18" long. 8 3/4" wide. Bt A. Sjogren. Hofslagangatan, Stockholm. Carriage + packing included. '; Ehioba is leader of the Ooton guild, selected from descendants of previous rulers of Benin, who served the high priest Osuan. The bulge beneath his tunic on his chest represents the concealed jawbones of adeceased Iyase (political opponent to Oba). ; See Collection File: Af1944,04.1-77.
Bibliographic references
bibliography
Plankensteiner 2007: p.328, cat.73~Barley 2010: p.79, fig. 53~Gunsch 2018:
Exhibition history
exhibition history
Exhibited: 1965, Oxford, Pitt Rivers Museum, Art from the Guinea Coast 1970-1973, London, Museum of Mankind, Divine Kingship in Africa
Condition
condition
Fair; missing top left corner and chip from top right corner. Missing section from left side at midway. Missing bottom right and left corners. Surface damage around figure's feet.
Subjects
iconography
palace/mansion
Associated events
event
Associated Event: British to Benin City - Feb 1897
Acquisition name (acquisition)
provenance
Irene Marguerite Beasley
Acquisition name (previous)
provenance
Previous owner/ex-collection: Harry Geoffrey Beasley~Previous owner/ex-collection: Åke Sjögren~Previous owner/ex-collection: William Downing Webster
Acquisition date
accession date
1944
Acquisition notes (excavation)
provenance
This plaque was looted during the British to Benin City in 1897.
Sensitive Content

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