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42                       Antique   Works  of  Art  from  Benin.






                                          DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXI.


                            121.  Head-dress                     of         It serves to        the construc-
                      Fig.                    composed entirely     agate.              explain
                                tion of the head-dresses on the bronze  plaques  and  figures, showing  how the
                                reticulated effect on the  plaques  is formed  by  beads of  agate strung together
                                in a kind of network.   The rosettes of  agate,  and the  tags  and  pendants  are
                                also  explained by  this  figure.  See  Figs. 2, 4, 43, 44, 82, 83, 86, 87, 94, 95,
                                96, 97, 100, 101, 119, 120, 124, 125, 126, 127, 232-234, 277, 278, &c.
                             122 and 123.    Circular brass box, ornamented on the      with a central
                       Figs.                                                        top                figure
                                in  repousse work, holding  two crocodiles  upright  in each hand.  The  legs
                                terminate in a band turned  up  on each side as shown    in other  designs  in
                                Benin art.   There are also circular heads  having  tribal marks over the  eyes.
                                Rosettes, guilloche  and fish-scale  patterns  are also  represented  in  repousse*.
                                The         of the box are rivetted            with bands of             This
                                     pieces                          together                  copper.
                                        to be the kind of box              in the hands of one of the smaller
                                appears                        represented
                                        in the  plaque, Fig. 179, Plate XXVII.
                                figures                                         The latter, however, is taller.
                                These         have been described      Mr. C. Read as drums in his
                                       objects                     by                                   paper
                                       "
                                in the  Journ.                                                        Viewed
                                                Anthrop. Inst," Vol. XXVII, Plate XVIII, Fig.     4.
                                as a drum, the                    at     and bottom are not
                                                projecting flanges   top                     explained.
                             124 and 125.    Human mask of brass   ; the        of the      inlaid with iron.
                       Figs.                                             pupils        eyes
                                Reticulated  head-dress, with   rosettes  probably  of  agate.  Three   tribal
                                marks over each         Rows of semi-circles   filled with semi-circles round
                                                  eye.
                                neck.   The features are rounded, and, although  a  good  deal tooled, are  less
                                flattened          than some of these masks.    This  is a                  of
                                          by filing                                        good specimen
                                Benin art.
                       Figs.  126 and 127.    Human mask of brass   ; the  pupils  of the  eyes  inlaid with iron.
                                Reticulated head-dress, with rosettes           of         Coral band above
                                                                       probably    agate.
                                the forehead.   Three   tribal marks over each           Ears         formed.
                                                                                  eye.         badly
                                 Coral choker, badge  of rank.  Guilloche          with          round neck.
                                                                          pattern,       pellets
                                 The face is     much tooled and filed, and the       and nose flattened
                                            very                                 lips                      by
                                         Crotals have          been              from the
                                 filing.              probably       suspended             eyelets below, as
                                 indicated     the        links of chains  left                  Plate XIX,
                                           by      eight                        remaining   (see
                                 Fig. 112).
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