A Bronze Plaque in the Style of Benin, a high-ranking military person in full regalia, a feather costume, coral ruffle, headgear, ceremonial sword and spear (?), maybe a general or a vassal warlord. The gesture of the two angled and outwardly directed arms is described ... spear is not bent at all! Perhaps you, the dear reader, will know what the enigmatic object is. In this case, please let us know.

The sculpture was exhibited at the vernissage of our Benin Bronze Exhibition at the Wolfgang-Jaenicke Gallery from 1.8.- 15.10.2018. The Commision of Museums and Monuments, Abuja, Nigeria, was informed about this exhibition/bronze. No claims for repatriation have been made. These claims are time-barred after publication in 2018 (KGSG).

According to the 1970 UNESCO Convention, the right to repatriation expires one year after the authorities of a country of origin have learned where and with whom a cultural asset is located. The Wolfgang Jaenicke Gallery therefore always provided information about each newly imported object. Especially about the bronzes from Nigeria shown on this page, which are published on the Internet and are accessible to everyone. Organizations that deal with restitution matters, as well as free art historians employed by the state, as restitution experts such as Benedicte Savoy, are regularly informed about objects in the Wolfgang Jaenicke Gallery.

Lit.: Kathryn Wysocki Gunsch, The Benin Plaques. A 16th Century Imperial Monument, 2019, p. 131-133, Annex 2 p. 2010. Armand Duchâteau, Benin. Royal Art of Africa,1994, p. 57 no. 44. Flange pattern by sub-type: Rounded corner double-woven BM Af1898, 0115,112 left. s. also digitalbenin.org/catalogue/5_Af1898011550.

A similar more fragmentary bronze from the same exhibition, instead of a ceremonial staff in this case the figure is holding a spear or lance in his right hand.

sold

Height: 50 cm
Width: 36 cm
Weight: 8,7 kg

British Museum, digitalbenin.org/catalogue/5_Af1898011550.