Final answer:
The 17th-century plaque from Benin features a mudfish-legged Oba along with two sacrificial leopards and is an example of the skilled bronze artwork created by the craftsmen of the igun eronmwon guilds using the lost-wax casting method.
Step-by-step explanation:
The plaque featuring a mudfish-legged Oba with two sacrificial leopards is a depiction from the 17th century Benin that captures the essence of the royal court and its ceremonies. These sculptures and the art from that era were made exclusively on commission by the Oba, who was the ruler of the Benin Kingdom in present-day Nigeria. These artworks were crafted using the lost-wax casting method by skilled artisans of the igun eronmwon guilds, who possessed immense talent in creating bronze art. The detailed bronze castings included not only plaques but also other ceremonial objects, such as the ancestral head of an Oba for altars and hip ornaments in the shape of a leopard head, consistent with the status and opulence of the Oba. The pieces are significant for their historical and cultural values, often portraying the Oba's divinity and human attributes, and sometimes including representations of Europeans who had trade relations with Benin.