Page 46 - Works of Art from Benin-Nigeria- West Africa

40 Antique Works of Art from Benin.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XX.

115. Brass a deal filed and tooled all over. Handle ornamented
Fig. key, good
with twisted The form of this cannot be identified as
rope pattern. key
Roman, and is probably European.
116. Bronze stand for the of maucala, with ten holes and two
Fig. game irregular-
shaped cavities in the centre. It is the same game as Figs. 184 and 185,
Plate XXVIII, but with fewer holes. The sides are ornamented with inter-
laced and the stem and the of the base with varieties of
strap-work, edge
This is distributed all over Africa, and is
guilloche pattern. game nearly
said to be found wherever Arab influence is seen. It is also found in
Palestine, Syria, Arabia, Maldive Islands, India, Ceylon, Malay Peninsula,
Java, and the Philippine Islands.
Fig. 117. Brass bell, with reticulated pierced work. Negro head on front. This
bell is as a survival of the bells so often seen
interesting being hanging
from the necks of the on the It is evident that it never
figures plaques.
could have emitted any sound.
118. in brass; ornamented on the
Fig. Entire tortoise shell, upper and under sides,
upper side with geometrical pattern ; each figure inlaid with a copper 1 >olt
or stud in the centre.
119 and 120. Bronze human head for carved tusks. The
Figs. holding elephants'
and coral or Four
head-dress, pointed reticulated, representing agate.
tribal marks over each Six vertical bands of inlaid iron-work over the
eye.
nose. The of the are of iron. The head-dress resembles
pupils eyes
100 and 101, Plate XVII. Coral choker. Guilloche on
Figs. pattern
projecting base.