Page 53 - Works of Art from Benin-Nigeria- West Africa

Works Art from Benin.
46 Antique of

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXIII.

132 and 133. Small head of boy, in bronze, with three raised tribal marks over
Figs.
each eye, and two vertical marks on forehead. Head-dress with crest.
two rude human male and female,
134. in bronze, representing figures,
Fig. Figures
a bear. A or board, of three rows of
attending an animal, probably plate,
circles with ten circles in each row, is laid out before the figures, and is
a of mancala, of which examples are seen in Plate XX, Fig.
perhaps game
184 and 185. The female has very large
116, and Plate XXVIII, Figs. figure
and her hands are her stomach. The hair is plaited
anklets, spread upon
a Mexican in this
and ornamented with knobs, resembling pottery figure
collection. The hair of the male figure is plaited and turned over on the
left side, and he is sitting cross-legged. His left arm and hand are spread

upon the bear, and he has a rod in the right hand. A burnt core of sand is
seen under the thin metal pedestal.
135. Brass bottle, hung by chain, and ornamented with representation of twisted
Fig.
twine, and a guilloche pattern without pellets round the swell. The rings
for hanging it are similar to those on the powder flask, Figs. 56 and 57, Plate
IX. A similar brass bottle, but smaller, is represented in Plate XXXV,
267.
Fig.
137 and 138. A used as the stand for a
Figs. very rude head of bronze; probably
carved tusk. Four tribal marks over each eye ; the eyes projecting like
those of 'Plate V:' This is the rudest head in the collection.
Figs. .
139. A on the outside
Fig. cylindrical stand of bronze, for carved tusks, representing
four female with bands of interlaced work
figures standing, upright strap-
between. All the are in their hands. One holds a
figures holding objects
bird, another a sistrum, which is being beaten with a stick ; the rest are
broken. Two of the bands of interlaced strap-work are of thin repousse
work, and nailed on with bronze nails. The base and top are ornamented
with similar to No. 140. All the have three incised
looped straps, figures
tribal marks over the and crested A vertical hole for the
eyes, head-gear.
carved tusk runs down the centre, like those in all the human heads.