Royal Plate

It belongs to the so-called cutting art. These plates began to be made from the century onwards. XVI. The plates of the century XVI represent Portuguese soldiers and from the XVII Binis soldiers. These are often cutting scenes with high dignitaries clad in their finest galas and wearing the saber of ceremonies. eben. Other plates represent musicians, messengers, court servants, kings and notables.

Several thousand plates were stolen by the English on their expedition of 1897It is not known why most of these plates were stored in warehouses, although their main destination was to cover the walls and columns of the royal rooms.

They adorned the walls of the royal palace and the pillars that supported the roofs of the galleries and interior courtyards. As they had no writing, they used these plates, as if they were illustrated bands to narrate the feats and deeds of the Oba and their warriors, as well as the administration of their justice. It was his way of writing the story. Many of the glorious gestures told on the plates were put into the form of verse and musiced by the griots.

This plaque represents three soldiers of the Edo royal guard with their spears and shields. It's reproduction, mid-century. XXIn this type of plate, the center is always occupied by the highest-ranking character. The hierarchy is a deeply rooted feeling throughout Africa.