Final answer:
The Plaque: Warrior Chief and Attendants was significant to the British in 1897 because it was part of the cultural artifacts looted during their invasion of Benin, representing the power and history of the Benin Kingdom.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of the Plaque: Warrior Chief and Attendants, from the Edo culture in Benin, Nigeria, to the British in 1897 is deeply rooted in the context of colonialism and the looting of cultural artifacts. When the British invaded Benin in 1897, they not only conquered the people but also sought to destroy their culture. Among the treasures they confiscated were the Benin plaques, which included depictions of the Warrior Chief and his Attendants. These artifacts were made using the lost-wax casting technique, presenting detailed bronze work that reflected the power and history of the Oba, the local ruler. The British looted these artifacts, many of which ended up in museums such as the British Museum, thus removing them from their cultural context and interrupting the transmission of Benin's history through its art.