Registration number
Af1898,0115.141
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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Iconographies

9 annotations
Rosette - 'The Sun Never Misses a Day'
Owẹn iba ẹdẹ ku
Rosette - 'The Sun Never Misses a Day'

This rosette design, usually found in the corners of Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques), is one of two motifs representing the sun and one of a number of motifs in Edo art that are also connected with Olokun. The association between the sun and Olokun refers to the way in which the sun descends into the sea each day—hence the proverb ‘the sun never misses a day’—and the sea is where the deity Olokun lives.

1 annotation
Owẹn iba ẹdẹ ku
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. 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
Single Beaded Baldric
Ukpan obọ ọkpa
Single Beaded Baldric

Ukpan obọ ọkpa is a single baldric worn diagonally across the torso, from the left shoulder to the right hip. Barbara Blackmun described these baldrics as an “Ẹkpẹn band,” worn by figures as “a sign of distinction” ( ).

1 annotation
Ukpan obọ ọkpa
tribal marks
Iwu
Facial and Body Markings

Iwu are facial and body markings (scarifications) that were historically worn by Edo men and women. However, since the 1960s, the practice has been nearly extinct. ). In the past, Iwu were used as a way of proving that one was an Edo citizen, and the ceremony of having Iwu completed was an important rite of passage for men and women. The Osiwu, who also practised circumcision and other surgical procedures, would carry out the procedure of adding Iwu. There are different types of Iwu: ‘blades’ worn on the torso (Iwu-eko), and those worn on the face, such as Ikharo (three or four markings above the eyebrows), Irho (two narrow ‘blades’ worn on each cheek), Ovbihue (nasal ‘blades’), Ovbi-agbanmwen (chin ‘blade’), and Igho-okpa/Ukpgho (three forehead ‘blades’).

The number of Iwu also varied depending on the identity of the person wearing them. For example, royal men would wear six ‘blades’ on their torso, whilst men who were not royal would wear seven ‘blades’. Meanwhile, the Ọba’s female children would wear fifteen ‘blades’, and all other women would wear sixteen.

1 annotation
Iwu
Kola Nut Bowl
Orhiẹvbẹ
Kola Nut Bowl

Orhiẹvbẹ are boxes or bowls used to store and present kola nuts and other items for offering, particularly in ceremonial and ritual contexts. Kola nuts were, and continue to be, presented to guests by hosts as a gesture of courtesy and friendship, as well as a symbol of peace, order, and civilisation.

Orhiẹvbẹ are incorporated into the imagery of Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques), where they are often held by attendants, indicating the presentation of offerings, particularly to the Ọba. Those depicted among the Emwin Arre (royal treasures) take a variety of forms, ranging from simple round or oval bowls and lidded vessels to examples shaped as antelope heads.

1 annotation
Orhiẹvbẹ
leopard teeth
Akọn Ẹkpen
Leopard Teeth Neck Ornament

Akọn Ẹkpẹn are necklaces or neck ornaments made of strung leopard’s teeth. They are worn by figures to signify their high rank and military prowess, as well as by their leaders, the Ezọmọ or Iyasẹ. They are often worn alongside quadrangular Ẹroro (bells) and Ohian Ẹkpẹn (leopard tunics).

The Akọn Ẹkpẹn is clearly and profoundly related to the symbolism of the Ẹkpẹn (leopard) and its association with the Ọba (king), who is metaphorically referred to as ‘ẹkpẹn ne owa’, the ‘leopard of the home’. On the other hand, the Ẹkpẹn is often referred to as the ‘king of the bush’, embodying ferocity, aggression, strength, and leadership—qualities attributed to the Ọba. This intricate link between the leopard, the monarch, and his military leaders reinforces the complex hierarchy and spiritual authority central to Benin’s courtly art.

1 annotation
Akọn Ẹkpen
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
Iconography image
Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ
Pendant Mask

Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ (pendant masks) formed part of the ceremonial regalia worn by court dignitaries to indicate their rank or function and are frequently represented among the Emwin Arhe (royal treasures), particularly those made of brass, bronze, or ivory.

Different animals were depicted on Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ, particularly the heads of leopards and crocodiles. The most common type features the face or head of an Ọba. Other examples take the form of an elephant head incorporating the trunk-hand motif, a ram’s head, or, in a very small number of cases, the face of a Portuguese man. Different figures appear to have worn Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ with different imagery. For example, warrior chiefs are often depicted wearing leopard-head pendant masks, whereas crocodile-head Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ are generally shown being worn only by the Ọba and his Enọbare (Blackmun 2007, cat. no. 137, p. 365).

1 annotation
Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ
Feather
Igan
Feather

Igan (feathers) are commonly depicted tucked into the headdresses and hats of chiefs represented on Emwin Arre (royal treasures). These feathers are from the Oɛɣohɔ (vulturine fish eagle) and symbolise respected old age and proper chieftaincy.

1 annotation
Igan

Provenance

7 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 19, 1897 (day approximate) to June 1899 (month approximate)
The object was looted by Ralph Denham Rayment Moor from Benin Kingdom.
Transfer
March 19, 1897 (day approximate)
The object was transferred from Ralph Denham Rayment Moor to British Foreign Office from Benin City to London.
Loan
September 7, 1897 to January 1898 (month approximate)
The object was loaned by British Foreign Office to the British Museum through Crown Agents for the Colonies in London.
Donation
January 15, 1898
The object was donated by British Foreign Office to the British Museum in London.
Exhibition
1970 to 1973
The object was exhibited at London.
Exhibition
February 1, 1991 to April 30, 1991
The object was exhibited at Norwich.

Related archival documents

2 documents
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Date
Date

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
Af1898,0115.141
Additional IDs
object id
166 (Foreign Office number)
PRN
object id
EAF26563
Object Type
designation
plaque
Description
description
Relief plaque, lost-wax cast in brass. Wide plaque, rectangular in form with side flanges. Background surface decorated with river leaf patterns and stippling. Six rosettes in relief in top right and left corners, midway at right and left, bottom right and left corners. Three nail holes at top right, left and centre; five holes along right side; three holes at bottom, right corner and side and left corner. Depicts single standing figure, facing front, holding cow- or antelope-headed container in both hands. Figure has plaits terminating in beads at both sides of face. Wears beaded cap with feather at left side, deep beaded collar, leopard's tooth necklace, sash across chest, beaded bracelets and anklets, leopard's face hip ornament at left side, and patterned wrap-around skirt with stylised image of European (Portuguese) head.
Ethnic name (made by)
ethnic attribution
Edo
Date
date made
16thC-17thC
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: 53.00 cm~Width: 39.00 cm~Depth: 12.00 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 ; Figure holds container in the form of a cow's or antelope's head used by chiefs in Benin Kingdom to offer kola nuts.
Bibliographic references
bibliography
Gunsch 2018:
Exhibition history
exhibition history
Exhibited: 1970-1973, London, Museum of Mankind, Divine Kingship in Africa 1991 Feb-Apr, Norwich, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Man and Metal in Ancient Nigeria
Condition
condition
Fair; slight chip from top right corner. Small chips from bottom right edge. Hole at left side of figure's body. Further holes at right side of figre below rosette and tiny holes on opposite side of figure. Narrow band of discolouration along right edge of plaque.
Subjects
iconography
palace/mansion ~mammal
Associated events
event
Associated Event: British to Benin City - Feb 1897
Acquisition name (acquisition)
provenance
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Acquisition date
accession date
1898
Acquisition notes (excavation)
provenance
This plaque was looted during the British to Benin City in 1897.
Sensitive Content

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