This large bronze plaque described here originates from the Kingdom of Benin and depicts a central ruler figure, generally identified as the Oba of Benin. The Oba stands prominently in the centre of the composition, holding a rattle staff in one hand and a shield in the other. Three attendants flank him at his sides, while two busts of Portuguese figures appear in the upper section of the plaque. The arrangement establishes a clear hierarchical structure, a characteristic feature of the visual language of the court of Benin. Such relief plaques form part of the corpus commonly referred to as the Benin Bronzes, produced between roughly the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries to adorn the royal palace and to visualise the political order and ceremonial life of the kingdom. The Oba is rendered at a larger scale than the accompanying figures, reflecting a principle of hierarchical proportion that is central to Benin court art. This difference in scale does not aim at naturalistic representation but rather emphasises the political and cosmological importance of the ruler. As the focal point of the composition, the king is visually elevated above the attendants who frame and reinforce his authority. The shield carried by the Oba may be interpreted as a symbol of military and political power, underscoring his role as the supreme leader and protector of the kingdom. Particularly significant is the rattle staff held by the ruler. Objects of this type, often containing an iron rod within the hollow cast structure, held important ritual functions within the ceremonial culture of the Benin court. Their sound played a role in ritual performances associated with the veneration of royal ancestors. In this context the rattle staff functioned not merely as a musical device but as a symbolic instrument of spiritual authority and communication with the ancestral realm. Within the religious worldview of Benin, the Oba occupied a crucial mediating position between the living community and the spirits of past rulers. The inclusion of such an object in the depiction therefore emphasises the sacred dimension of kingship. In the upper register of the plaque two European busts are represented, commonly interpreted as Portuguese figures. Their presence reflects the early diplomatic and commercial relations established between the Kingdom of Benin and Portugal from the late fifteenth century onwards. Portuguese traders and envoys reached the West African coast during the period of Atlantic expansion and developed sustained trade contacts with the Benin court. Within Benin visual culture, such foreign figures often functioned as markers of prestige and long-distance exchange. Imported goods, including metals and luxury items, played an important role within the courtly economy and could symbolically signal the international connections and prosperity of the kingdom. The plaque likely formed part of a larger decorative programme within the royal palace, where numerous cast reliefs were once mounted on wooden pillars and walls. Together they created a visual archive of royal ceremonies, historical events and the hierarchical structure of the court. Their production was carried out by specialised guilds of brass casters working under royal patronage, employing the lost-wax casting technique. The creation of these works was closely controlled by the court and formed an integral element of the artistic and political culture of Benin. Taken as a whole, the plaque conveys a complex representation of kingship in the Kingdom of Benin. The Oba appears not only as a political leader but also as a sacred authority, surrounded by attendants, ritual insignia and references to international contacts. Through this combination of elements, the relief articulates the intertwined political, ritual and economic dimensions of royal power within the cosmological and social order of Benin. Condition Report The plaque features several perforations, some of which were used for attachment at the upper and lower edges. There are three holes of varying sizes along both the top and bottom margins. In addition, there is a small loss at the upper left edge. The iron rod inside the rattle staff is heavily oxidised. The plaque as a whole shows slight waviness; however, overall it is preserved in above-average condition. TL- Analysis Kotalla 290 years +/- 19,2 % CAB37402