Page 64 - Works of Art from Benin-Nigeria- West Africa

Work* Art Benin.
54 Antique of from

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVII.

178. made of the point of an elephant's tusk. Mouth-hole on
Fig. Ivory trumpet,
the convex side. The hutt end is ornamented with two snakes in two
bands, tails in mouths.
179. Bronze with five the central figure with coral choker,
Fig. plaque, figures;
hadge of rank, coral or agate head-dress with feather, and sash. Broad
sword in hand ; spear, point down, in left. Two
leaf-shaped upheld right
one with the other a brass box similar
hoys, ivory trumpet, holding nearly
to 122 and 123, Plate XXI. These objects have been described by
Figs.
"
Messrs. Read and Dalton as drums in their paper in the Journ. Anthrop.
4. Viewed as a drum, the
Inst," Vol. XXVII, Plate XVIII, Fig. pro-
at and bottom are not head on
jecting flanges top explained. Leopard's
Attendants shields bells on necks. The
girdle. carrying ; quadrangular
left attendant is holding the same spear as the central figure, point down,
as in 17, Plate IV. Head-dresses of attendants with ornaments of
Fig.
cowrie shells. Ground ornamented with leaf-shaped foil ornaments incised.
180.- Bronze the of a warrior, with
Fig. plaque, representing figure unusually
formed helmet, apparently of metal. Quadrangular bell on neck and teeth
necklace. Shield on right arm, and spear with square cap at butt end,
point downwards, in left hand. The ground is ornamented Math two
half-moons and the usual foil ornaments incised.
leaf-shaped
181. Bronze three the central one a drum
Fig. plaque, representing figures, beating
with his and no drum-sticks. The drum has with knobs to
fingers, pegs
fasten down the skin, like Fig. 248, Plate XXXII, and similar to the Jekri
drum in the "Journ. Vol. I, New
figured Anthrop. Inst.," Series,
Plate 5. bell on chest. Both the side
VIII, Fig. Quadrangular figures
hold sistri with two bells, like Figs. 76 to 78, Plate XII, upheld in their left
hands, which they are beating with sticks in their right hands. This
plaque gives a fair idea of the kind of music used in Benin.