Page 83 - Works of Art from Benin-Nigeria- West Africa

70 Antique Works of Art from Benin.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXV.

265 and 266. Bronze grotesque mask, intended as a stand for the
Figs. probably
carved ivory tusks in the Ju-Ju houses. The eyeballs project like those of
the head, No. 137. Three tribal marks over each and four over the
eye,
nose. The forehead is very projecting ; the nose aquiline and very broad.
Tags, apparently of coral, are on the sides. The ears are very large.
Fig. 267. Brass bottle and chain, rudely cast.
Figs. 268 to 270. Long oval wooden bowl carved out of the solid. On one side
is a row of five human in relief; the central has
(Fig. 269) figures figure
his hands upheld by attendants, who hold in their other hands shields

haying barbed javelins, points upward behind them. The shields are
ornamented with line Another holds an
straight diaper pattern. figure
object under the arm, perhaps a drum or a food vessel. At both ends
there is a of a
representation degenerate elephants's head, the proboscis
in a human hand a branch, similar to
terminating holding Figs. 72, 167,
and 316. At one end is a rude of a mud-fish.
representation degenerate
The other side of the bowl is ornamented with a broad
(Fig. 268) guilloche
and a interlaced The interior of the bowl
pattern square figure. is very
rudely chiselled out, showing marks of the tool all over. The carving is
very rough and much in the style of the execution block, Figs. 259 and 260,
Plate XXXIV.
271. Small bronze in the mouth
Fig. bird, with something ; very rude.