superb palace plaque - bini/edo - Nigeria (No Reserve Price)

Palace plaque - Nigeria - BIni Edo - Lost wax bronze
The Kingdom of Benin, in the south of present-day Nigeria, is renowned for its magnificent bronzes and ivory sculptures.
These works constitute one of humanity's greatest treasures and are among the centerpieces of museums around the world.

The Oba's palace, where the sumptuous royal shrines were located, was considered the centre of the capital and the kingdom.

The art of Benin is undoubtedly a royal art.
Its supervision was carried out by one of the three ruling orders, Iwebo (the other two being Iweguae and Ibiwe) .
This order was responsible for the king's finery and personal effects.

Many craftsmen's guilds were affiliated with this order. They primarily worked for the king and could only execute commissions for other clients with royal authorization.
The bronze founders, ivory sculptors, weavers, tailors, and leather artisans are some of the guilds led by the Iwebo.

Triadic representations show the Oba surrounded by two men who support his arms and hands; this emphasizes the fact that the king could not govern or fulfill his functions alone.
This traditional configuration reflects the typical way the king and dignitaries were positioned during ceremonies.

These extraordinary bronze plaques showcase the excellent craftsmanship of the bronze artisans.

Lost-wax castings, they depict, like picture books, important and glorious facts related to the Obas. They were nailed to the walls of the palaces.

They also sometimes represent Europeans, such as Portuguese dignitaries who, from the 15th century, were present in Ifé.