Page 117 - Works of Art from Benin-Nigeria- West Africa

98 Antique Works of Art from Benin.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLIX.

382 and 383. Cubical metal with handle, chain and hook for suspension.
Figs. lamp,
The hook is ornamented at its lower half with raised transverse incised
lines and lozenge-shaped incisions. It is attached to a chain of three links,
the upper and lower ones being oval ; the middle one is 8-shaped. The
other end of the chain is attached to a loop which projects from the head
of a nude human figure (length of figure is 2^ inches), the feet of which
are fixed by a loop of copper wire to the handle of the bar ; the handle has
a on the side. There is a human face in
zigzag guilloche pattern upper
relief on the sides of the body of the lamp, with fish-scale pattern on the
The borders of the are raised and have
groundwork. lamp rope pattern,
a double knot at each corner. The has four and from the
loop lamp legs,
centre of the bottom is a small round and not so as
piece projecting, long
the legs. It is capped with a circular bottom, which is decorated with
incised concentric circles. Height from top of hook when suspended is
26 inches.
384. Metal armlet, ornamented with five rows of inlaid conventionalized
Fig. copper
cat-fishes and human faces ; the latter have long hair, long whiskers, and
long noses. Height, 5 inches.
Fig 385. Metal box, cylindrical in form, ornamented with three longitudinal rows
of ox skulls in relief, and incised human faces. Height, 7 inches.
386. Wooden comb, with carved
Fig. design.
387. Cast metal bowl. The small at the is situated in the centre
Fig. opening top
of an incised rosette ; this, together with four similar but smaller rosettes,
are coated with a wash.
copper On the base is a rosette within a circle.
388. Cast metal bowl. Distributed over the of the bowl are eleven
Fig. body finely
executed Maltese crosses.
389. bronze bell, ornamented on three sides with
Fig. Quadrangular open reticulated
work, framed in by a border of the guilloche pattern. A conventional face,
with hair and
long beard, is on one of the reticulated sides. Near the base
of the ornamented side is a small circular hole. 6 inches.
roughly Height,