Edo artist, Benin Kingdom

The Edo are a people of what is now Nigeria, in coastal West Africa, whose artists made the brass and bronze works known as the Benin Bronzes. The plaque shown here is the work of an Edo artist whose name is not known.

The Benin Bronzes are several thousand metal plaques and sculptures that decorated the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin, in present-day Edo State, Nigeria. Edo artists made them from the fourteenth century onward, and together they are regarded as the best examples of Benin art.

The plaques were produced by the Guild of Benin Bronze Casters, which is now based on Igun Street, also known as the Igun-Eronmwon Quarters. In the Edo language the Benin plaques are called ama. The plaques show scenes from the history of the kingdom or stand for themes within it. Besides the plaques, works in brass or bronze include portrait heads, jewelry and smaller pieces.

The plaque shown here is brass and dates from the sixteenth or seventeenth century. It comes from Nigeria and measures 35 by 31.2 by 7 centimeters (13 3/4 by 12 1/4 by 2 3/4 inches).

The Art Institute acquired the plaque through the Samuel P. Avery Fund (accession number 1933.782), and it is part of the museum’s Arts of Africa department.