ABSTRACT
The term “pendant plaque” has been used but needs a bit of clarification. Because these works present an arrangement of figures and creatures in a high-relief two-dimensional tableau they are very similar to the famous plaques from Benin. Virtually all instances of true pectorals are of face masks that were worn around the neck by those non-Benin leaders to express their subservience to the Oba of Benin as is the case with the Ata of Idah and the Eze of Nri. Cast-metal representations of humans mounted on horses are found in several contexts in southern Nigeria: on staff heads or finials, on pendant plaques, and as individual statues. Notably the horses’ eyes are almond-shaped and the body is elongated with an exaggerated nose and tail. It may be of significance that the mounted figure rides only side-saddle on all the plaques, but full-saddle on the statues.
