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
Figs. 124 and 125.--Human mask of brass; the pupils of the eyes inlaid
with iron. Reticulated head-dress, with rosettes probably of agate.
Three tribal marks over each eye. Rows of semi-circles filled with
semi-circles round neck. The features are rounded, and, although a good
deal tooled, are less flattened by filing than some of these masks.
This is a good specimen of Benin art.
Figs. 126 and 127.--Human mask of brass; the pupils of the eyes inlaid
with iron. Reticulated head-dress, with rosettes probably of agate.
Coral band above the forehead. Three tribal marks over each eye. Ears
badly formed. Coral choker, badge of rank. Guilloche pattern, with
pellets round neck. The face is very much tooled and filed, and the
lips and nose flattened by filing. Crotals have probably been suspended
from the eyelets below, as indicated by the eight links of chains left
remaining (see Plate XIX, Fig. 112).
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXII.
Fig. 128.--Armlet entirely of brass, without other metal. Ornamented
with four upright figures and four horizontal heads. The upright
figures have their forearms elevated. The legs are very attenuated
and the skirt of the dress very pronounced. Eyebrows extremely
prominent, and the head-dress of peculiar form and conical. The armlet
is surmounted by raised bands, which pass over the figures, and are
separated by pierced work. Broad rims are shown at top and bottom, and
are edged with herring-bone pattern.
Fig. 129.--Bronze plaque, representing human figure with beard, riding
to right; a ranseur of the sixteenth or seventeenth century in right
hand, point downwards. Hair combed out straight. No tribal marks.
Bodice fastened with buttons. Pleated kilt like Figs. 235 and 236,
Plate XXXI, and Fig. 247, Plate XXXII. Twisted or plaited bridle of
some limp substance in left hand. Bell and crotals on horse's neck.
Leopards in relief behind figure of horse. Ground ornamented with
trefoil leaves and punch-marks. This figure does not appear to be
negro. The horse appears to be galloping, which is not the usual Benin
method of locomotion.
Fig. 130.--Bronze plaque, representing two warriors with long, narrow,
leaf-shaped swords upheld in right hands. Peculiar head-dress, a broad
band on the frontal. Hair parted in the middle and hanging down behind.
One figure has a beard. Both have objects resembling bows slung upon
left arm. Leopards' teeth necklaces and quadrangular bells hanging from
necks. Ground ornamented with leaf-shaped foil ornaments incised.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account