Relief plaque: Two Leopard Hunters

Unknown artist of the Guild of Bronze Casters, Kingdom of Benin, today Nigeria
16th or 17th century
Collection F. Erdmann
Brass
50 x 37 cm
Inv. Nr. C 2301

 

Leopard hunters belonged to a specialized guild whose task was to catch leopards for the king. On the plaque between the two hunters there are two specimens tied up and gagged. The leopard was regarded as a symbol of the king and was only to be used by him as a special and valuable sacrificial animal.