03 · Benin City, Benin Kingdom (Nigeria) · 16th–17th century
Benin Bronze Court Reliefs
In the palace of the Oba of Benin, hundreds of cast brass plaques once covered the wooden pillars of the courtyards — a visual archive of the court. They show the Oba, his chiefs, warriors, musicians, and attendants in high relief, wearing coral-bead collars stacked to the chin and beaded crowns. The backgrounds are filled with small punched flower patterns. Only the royal guild of casters was allowed to make them, and they remain among the finest metalwork anywhere in the world.
The Igun Eronmwon casters' guild
guild founded c. 13th c.–present
The brass casters of Benin were organised in a royal guild that lived on its own street, Igun Street, which still exists. They used the lost-wax method: modelling each figure in wax over clay, covering it in more clay, melting the wax out, and pouring molten brass into the space. Their plaques use strict hierarchy — the most important person is the largest and centred, attendants smaller at the sides.
Look for
- rectangular plaque in high relief
- stacked coral-bead collars and crowns
- punched four-petal background pattern
- hierarchy of scale — the most important figure largest
- warm bronze with green patina
You've walked the cycle for 03.
Now take that language into Studio Night. As the Style Curator in Act III, you can name this tradition and watch the whole class scene take it on.