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Plaque (Ama)

Arts of Africa

Portuguese explorers and traders arrived by sea in the kingdom of Benin in 1485. Representations of the Portuguese were quickly incorporated into the art of the royal court. They were invariably represented wearing sixteenth-century European dress, with long hair, flowing beards, and moustaches. These depictions symbolized the wealth that the obas (kings) of Benin derived from foreign trade. One of the chief commodities imported from Portugal was the copper from which the plaques were made.
CULTURE Edo
MEDIUM Copper alloy
DATES 16th or 17th century
DIMENSIONS 19 13/16 x 15 9/16 x 2 1/2 in. (50.3 x 39.5 x 6.4 cm)  (show scale)
COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
ACCESSION NUMBER 56.6.74
CREDIT LINE Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos
PROVENANCE Prior to 1953, provenance not yet documented; before 1953, acquired by Julius Carlebach of New York, NY; by 1953, acquired by Millicent A. Rogers of Taos, NM; 1953, inherited from Millicent A. Rogers by Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos; 1956, gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos to the Brooklyn Museum.
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CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Full figure of Portuguese warrior, holds mace, cap with two feathers, flowing hair, beard, wears skirt, sword, three rosettes in background, chased surface with floral motif, figure also shows elaborate surface treatment.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Edo. Plaque (Ama), 16th or 17th century. Copper alloy, 19 13/16 x 15 9/16 x 2 1/2 in. (50.3 x 39.5 x 6.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, 56.6.74. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 56.6.74_PS2.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 56.6.74_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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