A brass plate in the style of Benin, depicting the entrance gate of the royal palace of Benin with two guards with shields and ceremonial staffs, next to each two naked figures, presumably the memory of a story after the Oba let his son and his friends walk naked through Benin City to demonstrate that these guys were men who were suspected of being women because of their feminine appearance; partly an encrusted patina with different layers of oxidations.

Location Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG, United Kingdom.

"Depicts four page figures in front of palace compound, courtyard or altar entrance with high tiled roof and turret with snake slithering down centre. Four narrow columns flanking figures show series of rectangular plaques each with single figure. Central section of plaque has three steps with seated leopard figures at top; foliate background decoration. Two innermost figures, facing front, carry ? spears and shields in mirror images. Both have tiered hairstyles, beaded and leopard's tooth necklaces, beaded anklets, baldrics with swords attached and patterened wrap-around skirts. The emada figures flanking them also face front. Both have tiered hairstyles with long plaits on either side of face, naked except for beaded necklaces and bracelets. Both hold circular leopard skin fans in right hands."Source Digital Benin, register no.Af1898,0115.46,

"An anecdote that is said to be related to this plate. According to this, the prince Odogbo, the son of King Oba Ehengbuda (ca. 1578 - 1608). Because of his feminine features, rumors spread that the boy was actually a girl. For this reason, the Oba ordered his son to walk naked from Usulu, where he resided, to Benin with a retinue of his own age as proof of his masculinity. This was to demonstrate that Odogbo was actually a man and could be considered as heir to the throne." source: Felix von Luschan: The Antiquities of Benin, Volume 2, Berlin 1919, pp. 219-220. Barbara Plankensteiner: Benin. Kings and Rituals. Courtly Art from Nigeria, Vienna 2007, p. 468.

sold

Height: 48 cm
Length: 37 cm
Weight: 9 kg