British Museum collection record for Plaque depicting an Oba with mudfish legs and two leopards

Name: Plaque depicting an Oba with mudfish legs and two leopards

Catalogue number: british-museum: Af1898,0115.30

Made at: Benin City

Reported holder: British Museum

Classification: plaque

Made during: 16thC-17thC

Material: brass

Description: Relief plaque, lost-wax cast in brass. Wide plaque, rectangular in form with side flanges. Background surface decorated with river leaf patterns and stippling. Two nail holes at top.

Description: Depicts Oba with mudfish legs, facing front, holding a leopard by tail in each hand. Oba wears cylindrical beaded crown with oro protrusion, deep beaded collar, protective king's bead on chest, beaded tunic, patterned skirt and waist pendants in form of crocodile heads.

Description: Height: 38.50 centimetres

Description: Width: 32 centimetres

Description: Depth: 5 centimetres

Description: Weight: 4.98 kilograms

Description: Fair; missing sections from top right and left corners. Flange sections missing at top and bottom on left and right sides. Sections along entire bottom edge missing.

Catalogue number: 205 (Foreign Office number)

Catalogue number: 3/55 (Dark: Benin catalogue number)

Description: Following the British occupation of Benin City (Edo) in 1897 objects made of brass, ivory and wood were looted by British forces from the royal palace, its storerooms and compounds. Some of these objects were sold or exchanged on the coast. However, many were brought to the UK where they were sold through private auction, donated to museums, or retained by soldiers of the expedition.