Page 78 - Works of Art from Benin-Nigeria- West Africa
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Works     Art        Benin.                        65
                                          Antique         of      from






                     246.          of bronze,                a horse's
                Fig.        ^Egis              representing
                          head  ; edged  with  eyelets probably  for sus-
                          pending crotals, similar to  Fig, 112, Plate
                          XIX, and   Figs.  126 and 127, Plate XXI.

                          Engraved   on one   side of the back    is a
                          broad              sword with
                                 leaf-shaped             ring pommel,
                          similar to that on the
                                                    ^Egis,  Fig.  276,
                          Plate XXXVI.        These                are
                                                      engravings
                                   and seem to denote a             or
                          peculiar,                          badge
                          mark, perhaps  of  ownership  of some kind.




                                                                                  BACK VIEW.
                Fig.  247.  Bronze   plaque,  representing  figure standing  ; weapon    or  implement
                                      a ranseur of the sixteenth or seventeenth          in
                          resembling                                            century     right hand,
                          point upwards.   Hair combed   straight  out.  Pot helmet.   Bodice fastened
                          with three buttons and    tags, perhaps   armour.   Left hand on    left  side.
                          Band with         round waist.    Pleated kilt like
                                      clasp                                    Fig.  129, Plate XXII;
                                235 and 236, Plate XXXI;              324 and 325, Plate XLII, and
                          Figs.                                 Figs.
                                360 and 361, Plate XLVI.     This        has      thick      but
                          Figs.                                   figure     very       lips,    might
                          not be          Ground ornamented with leaves in twos and
                                 negro.                                                 threes, incised,
                          and dotted  punch-marks.    The  figure  somewhat resembles in character the
                          mounted  figure, Fig. 129, Plate XXII.
                      248.  Bronze                       a                 a drum with sticks
                Fig.                plaque, representing   figure playing                       ; quad-
                          rangular  bell on neck, ornamented with a sinuous snake, head downwards.
                          Head-dress with two feathers.    Hair combed            and coiled in
                                                                         straight                plaits.
                          A          kind of                               on drum.
                            peculiar         straight  line  diaper pattern            This drum has
                          pegs  with nobs to fasten down the skin, similar to that  represented  on the
                                       181 Plate XXVII, and to the Jekri drum               in  "  Journ.
                          plaque, Fig.                                             figured
                          Anthrop.  List.," Vol  I, New Series, Plate VIII, Fig.     5.  Ground orna-
                          mented with incised              foil ornaments and
                                               leaf-shaped                    punch-marks.










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