This Wall Plaque, from Oba’s Palace created by the Edo peoples depicts the Oba, or the king, as the large central figure. The Oba was seen as a direct descendant of the founder of the dynasty (divine ruler). He was the head of government and considered a deity. In this wall plaque, he is surrounded by two smaller attendants who hold shields above his head in a protective stance, possibly to protect the Oba from attack, evil spirits, or the sun. Even smaller figures are seen to his direct left and right and can represent lower-ranking attendants. The Oba’s elaborate headdress and jewelry distinguish him and show Benin culture at its height. Hierarchy of scale shows the level of importance of a person within the court – the Oba is the largest and in the center which shows that he is the most important, while his attendants are smaller and towards the side which shows that they are of lesser importance. The Wall Plaque was made out of cast brass that was brought in by the Portuguese through trade. It went through a sculptural process that resulted in a stick-out relief.
These wall plaques were purely decorative and had no function. This particular wall plaque is just one out of over 900, and it was hung with many others on pillars throughout the palace. It is thought that these wall plaques were put in a specific order to tell the history of the royal lineage as well as aspects of court life in Benin. The Benin empire benefited from trade with the Portuguese beginning in the late 15th century, and this trade contributed to the Benin King’s wealth and power. The elaborate headdress of the Oba was made up of coral beads, just one of the products introduced by the Portuguese. Artists worked solely for the Oba, and wall plaques likely reinforced the idea of the Oba’s power as the controller of all trade and owner of all land.
Citations:
“Benin Plaques.” Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-africa/west-africa/nigeria/a/benin-plaques.
“Benin Plaque: Equestrian Oba and Attendants.” Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/africa-ap/a/benin-plaque-equestrian-oba-and-attendants.
“A History of the World – Object : Benin Plaque: the Oba with Europeans.” BBC, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/rmAT6B7zTZCGACd7i7l6Wg