Page 67 - Works of Art from Benin-Nigeria- West Africa

56 Antique Works of Art from Benin.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVIII.

184 and 185. mancala board of bronze. It has 352 holes; another in
Figs. Large
this collection, Fig. 116, Plate XX, has only ten circular holes. The sides
are ornamented with rectangular forms linked together. This game is
where Arab influence is seen. It is
distributed all over Africa, especially
also found in Palestine, Syria Arabia, Maldive Islands, India, Ceylon,
Malay Peninsula, Java and the Philippine Islands.
186 and 187. Curved iron knife, with handle carved as a human The
Figs. figure.
edge is on the convex side.
188 and 189. in leather sheath. Blade with a section.
Figs. Dagger quadrilateral
Brass handle with forked pommel.
190 and 191. A or of head on the
Figs. dagger prod ivory. Negro upper part,
below which is a human female reversed and crouched ; the hands
figure
the breasts the crouched Stained blunt
holding ; legs up. yellow ;
pointed.
192 and 193. Point of of a
Figs elephant's tusk, carved with a representation
human At a skeleton of a crocodile, and a human
figure kneeling. point,
head at base, the mouth of which is It to be a whistle or
peculiar. appears
musical instrument.
194 and 195. Knife with handle. The brass sheath ornamented with
Figs. ivory
human a floral ornament, and a man on a horse.
figures,
196 and 197. Pointed rod of bronze, ornamented with two heads. Head-dress
Figs.
of upper head ornamented with bands of straight line diaper pattern.
Crocodile head lower of the rod in mouth.
holding part
198 and 199. Broad sword of iron; the wooden handle bound
Figs. knife-shaped
with brass and iron bands
alternating. On one side the blade is engraved
with a human and an execution sword traced in lines of dots and
figure
incised lines, as is frequently the case in Australian representations of
figures on wood. The other side of the blade has an ornamentation in
leaves on a sinuous stem, and a square pattern of interlaced bands.
200. Brass
Fig. bracelet, having amongst other ornaments a band of line
straight
diaper pattern.
201. Bronze link or
Fig. buckle, or portion of one, with incised floral guilloche
ornament, similar to that on the brass wand, Fig. 211, Plate XXIX, and
the armlets, Fig. 140, Plate XXIII, and Fig. 238, Plate XXXII.