Antique Works of Art from Benin: Collected by Lieutenant-General Pitt Rivers — John Shaqi
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. 235 and 236.--Bronze figure of a native, holding what appears
to be a flint-lock gun, but the hammer of the lock is broken off.
The stock is ornamented with a debased human head. The figure has a
leopard's skin on front and back, tail and hind legs of which are
shown behind; the tail terminates in a square bell. Sword in sheath on
right side and a dagger under the arm on left side, with small bags on
both sides. There is a row of eighteen cartridges in the waist-belt
in front. The cartridges appear to be stuck upright into sockets in
the belt. A curved horn powder-flask is on the belt on the left side.
Pleated kilt below waist-belt. On the ground, touching the feet, is
a decapitated head and nine large pellets, perhaps cannon balls. The
pedestal ornamented with interlaced strap-work, alternating with oval
figures, in character resembling the ornament on the stock of the gun.
It stands on a framework of curved bars, now broken. The breeches are
ornamented with vertical rows of circles. Although this figure holds a
flint-lock gun, it is undoubtedly a native, as three tribal marks are
shown above each eye. The face is also prognathic. The head-dress seems
to be of a woven material.
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXII.
Figs. 237 and 238.--Armlet of ivory, ornamented with representations
of human heads, birds and animals, carved on the surface, and also of
degenerate elephants' heads, the proboscis, in each case, terminating
in a human hand holding a palm branch; horses' heads; tortoises;
leopards, &c.; all of the most conventionalized forms. Bands of crotals
are carved at each end of the armlet. The armlet consists of two halves
connected by a thin brass plate and copper rivets on one side and on
the other by copper fastenings. The plate is ornamented by a floral
guilloche pattern, similar to that on the central band of Fig. 140, on
the wands, Figs. 209 and 211, and elsewhere. This pattern is figured
by Messrs. Read and Dalton in the "Journ. Anthrop. Inst.," Vol. XXVII,
Plate XXII. The carved figures represented on this ivory armlet are of
much greater rudeness than those on the bronze objects generally. Much
weathered and probably very old.
Fig. 239.--Quadrangular brass bell, with a degenerate face on one side;
the eyes of the face are converted into loops.
Fig. 240.--Quadrangular brass bell. The loops on one side are evidently
derived from the degenerate face on Fig. 239.
Fig. 241.--Brass bracelet, consisting of human heads linked together.
One of the heads has projections ornamented with concentric circles.
Fig. 242.--Necklet of cylindrical coral beads, four of which are
ornamented with straight line diaper pattern. One of the beads is
ornamented with a guilloche pattern, with pellets inlaid with lead.
Fig. 243.--Brass bracelet, of peculiar form, ornamented with small
circular punch-marks.
Fig. 244.--Brass bracelet, with clusters of rows of circular knobs or
shells.
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