A fragmentary brass plate in the style of Benin

A fragmentary brass plate in the style of Benin, depicting the Oba framed by two high ranking subordinates in kneeling position, two heads of Europeans in relief above the Oba, wearing long hair and a European military helmet, in the background water lilies ornaments, condition report: around the left portuguese is a crack, which can be total broken off very easily, it should have support from the backside in case of restoring.

This is very similar to objects illustrated in plate 47 (illustrations 99 and 100) in An Introduction to Benin Art and Technology, by P. J. C. Dark, (1973)). Represents the Oba sitting on a throne in the form of a kola-nut box, holding a blacksmith's hammer and supported by two attendants. Two heads of Europeans in relief above the Oba. Dark suggests these plaques date to the first quarter of the 17th century, but Ben-Amos (see plate 20 in The Art of Benin, by Paula Ben-Amos (1980)) illustrates one in similar style that she states is possibly 16th century. [LMM, undated; JC 18 7 2002, 9 5 2008] Source: DB Accession Number object id 1907.66.1, Pitt Rivers Museum.