Benin Plaque, 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 by Gunsch as "grammar". It is a gesture that appears repeatedly in the depictions of the vassals and they always carry the ceremonial sword in their right hand. The left hand is either clenched into a fist or, as here, it holds an object described in literature as a spear. Why this "spear" has this strong curvature in the upper part can only be guessed. On many plaques you can find a spear attached to the plaque at its top and bottom and therefore it is bent but not as strongly curved as here on our plaque. We can only assume that this is a part of a spear with the lower half broken off or we are dealing with a completely different object. On a plaque depicted in Duchâteau´s book we find the central figure dressed like ours in the same feather costume, coral ruffle and headgear and holding a ceremonial sword and a spear but this spear is not bend at all! Perhaps you, the dear reader, will know what the enigmatic object is. In this case, please let us know.

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.

TL-analysis Kotalla: 280 years + / - 25 percent.

According to the UNESCO Convention of 1970, a claim for repatriation expires one year after the authorities of a country of origin have learned where and with whom a cultural object is located. Wolfgang Jaenicke Gallery therefore always informs about every newly imported object. Especially about the bronzes from Nigeria shown on this page, which are published in the internet and are accessible to everyone. Organizations dealing with restitution issues, but also freelance art historians employed by the state, such as restitution experts like Benedicte Savoy, are regularly informed about objects in the Galerie Wolfgang Jaenicke.
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Height: 50 cm
Weight: 7,8 kg