Antique Works of Art from Benin: Collected by Lieutenant-General Pitt RiversPitt-Rivers, Augustus Henry Lane-Fox
History
Antique Works of Art from Benin: Collected by Lieutenant-General Pitt Rivers
Pitt-Rivers, Augustus Henry Lane-Fox
Art objects -- Nigeria -- Benin City -- Catalogs
Fig. 116.--Bronze stand for the game of mancala, with ten holes and
two irregular-shaped cavities in the centre. It is the same game as
Figs. 184 and 185, Plate XXVIII, but with fewer holes. The sides are
ornamented with interlaced strap-work, and the stem and the edge of
the base with varieties of guilloche pattern. This game is distributed
nearly all over Africa, and is said to be found wherever Arab influence
is seen. It is also found in Palestine, Syria, Arabia, Maldive Islands,
India, Ceylon, Malay Peninsula, Java, and the Philippine Islands.
Fig. 117.--Brass bell, with reticulated pierced work. Negro head on
front. This bell is interesting as being a survival of the bells so
often seen hanging from the necks of the figures on the plaques. It is
evident that it never could have emitted any sound.
Fig. 118.--Entire tortoise shell, upper and under sides, in brass;
ornamented on the upper side with geometrical pattern; each figure
inlaid with a copper bolt or stud in the centre.
Figs. 119 and 120.--Bronze human head for holding carved elephants'
tusks. The head-dress, pointed and reticulated, representing coral
or agate. Four tribal marks over each eye. Six vertical bands of
inlaid iron-work over the nose. The pupils of the eyes are of iron.
The head-dress resembles Figs. 100 and 101, Plate XVII. Coral choker.
Guilloche pattern on projecting base.
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXI.
Fig. 121.--Head-dress composed entirely of agate. It serves to explain
the construction 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.
Figs. 122 and 123.--Circular brass box, ornamented on the top with a
central figure in repoussé 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 repoussé. The pieces of the box are rivetted
together with bands of copper. This appears to be the kind of box
represented in the hands of one of the smaller figures in the plaque,
Fig. 179, Plate XXVII. The latter, however, is taller. These objects
have been described by Mr. C. Read as drums in his paper in the "Journ.
Anthrop. Inst.," Vol. XXVII, Plate XVIII, Fig. 4. Viewed as a drum, the
projecting flanges at top and bottom are not explained.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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