The headdress of the three warriors on this plaque is reminiscent of that depicted on plaques of Esigie's warrior father Oba Ozolua (1481-1504) and his entourage. Ozoluas' rectangular headdress and the rounded, richly-decorated headdress of his attendants are very typical for this motif, as are the two weapons depicted on this plaque. Only the presence of the horse, not hitherto connected with Ozolua, and absence of the iron cloak for which the Oba was so famous are unusual.
Cp.:
Barbara PLANKENSTEINER (Hg.): Benin. Könige und Rituale. Höfische Kunst aus Nigeria, Wien 2007, S. 438/ 440.
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