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. 184 and 185.--Large mancala board of bronze. It has 352
holes; another in this collection, Fig. 116, Plate XX, has only ten
circular holes. The sides are ornamented with rectangular forms
linked together. This game is distributed all over Africa, especially
where Arab influence is seen. It is also found in Palestine, Syria,
Arabia, Maldive Islands, India, Ceylon, Malay Peninsula, Java and the
Philippine Islands.
Figs. 186 and 187.--Curved iron knife, with handle carved as a human
figure. The edge is on the convex side.
Figs. 188 and 189.--Dagger in leather sheath. Blade with a
quadrilateral section. Brass handle with forked pommel.
Figs. 190 and 191.--A dagger or prod of ivory. Negro head on the upper
part, below which is a human female figure reversed and crouched; the
hands holding the breasts; the legs crouched up. Stained yellow; blunt
pointed.
Figs. 192 and 193.--Point of elephant's tusk, carved with a
representation of a human figure kneeling. At point, a skeleton of a
crocodile, and a human head at base, the mouth of which is peculiar. It
appears to be a whistle or musical instrument.
Figs. 194 and 195.--Knife with ivory handle. The brass sheath
ornamented with human figures, a floral ornament, and a man on a horse.
Figs. 196 and 197.--Pointed rod of bronze, ornamented with two heads.
Head-dress of upper head ornamented with bands of straight line diaper
pattern. Crocodile head holding lower part of the rod in mouth.
Figs. 198 and 199.--Broad knife-shaped sword of iron; the wooden handle
bound with brass and iron bands alternating. On one side the blade is
engraved with a human figure and an execution sword traced in lines
of dots and 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.
Fig. 200.--Brass bracelet, having amongst other ornaments a band of
straight line diaper pattern.
Fig. 201.--Bronze link or 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.
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXIX.
Figs. 202 and 203.--Brass dancing sword or wand, said to be used by
virgins in their dances. The handle is ornamented with two figures,
which appear to be holding some objects. The blade is engraved with
guilloche pattern on both sides.
Figs. 204 to 209.--Three brass dancing swords or wands, said to be used
by virgins in their dances. Each handle is ornamented by four rudely
cast figures back to back, carrying objects in their hands, two of
which can be identified as birds, and two or three have leaf-shaped
swords with ring on pommel. One has bands of straight line diaper
pattern. The blades are ornamented with guilloche patterns and floral
ornaments incised.
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