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Special Exhibitions | |
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Gallery of Sub-Saharan African Art |
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Gallery of Sub-Saharan African Art
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Curator's Highlight Tour
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Plaque
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Plaque Brass plaques with figures in high relief were made to decorate the royal palace of the Benin king. Hundreds of these plaques once covered the wooden pillars of the palace courtyard. Imported by the Benin Kingdom as a result of overseas trade with Europe, brass was the ultimate sign of wealth and power and the exclusive property of the king.The plaques are not mentioned in travel accounts after 1700, but at the time of the British Punitive Expedition of 1897, about 900 plaques were found amassed in a palace storehouse. As records of ceremonial court life, most plaques show one or more male figures, including nobles, officials, and the king himself. However, it cannot be confirmed whether these scenes reflect rituals or ceremonies, or tell stories about historical events. Page 7 of 9 | On the next page: Helmet mask |
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