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Antique Works of Art from Benin

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLIX.

Reading edition

Figs. 382 and 383
Figs. 382 and 383

Figs. 382 and 383.—Cubical metal lamp, with handle, chain and hook for suspension. The hook is ornamented at its lower half with raised transverse incised lines and lozenge-shaped incisions. It is attached to a chain of three links, the upper and lower ones being oval; the middle one is 8-shaped. The other end of the chain is attached to a loop which projects from the head of a nude human figure (length of figure is 2½ inches), the feet of which are fixed by a loop of copper wire to the handle of the bar; the handle has a zigzag guilloche pattern on the upper side. There is a human face in relief on the sides of the body of the lamp, with fish-scale pattern on the groundwork. The borders of the lamp are raised rope pattern, and have a double loop knot at each corner. The lamp has four legs, and from the centre of the bottom is a small round piece projecting, and not so long as the legs. It is capped with a circular bottom, which is decorated with incised concentric circles. Height from top of hook when suspended is 26 inches.

Fig. 384
Fig. 384

Fig. 384.—Metal armlet, ornamented with five rows of inlaid copper conventionalized cat-fishes and human faces; the latter have long hair, long whiskers, and long noses. Height, 5⅞ inches.

Fig. 385
Fig. 385

Fig. 385.—Metal box, cylindrical in form, ornamented with three longitudinal rows of ox skulls in relief, and incised human faces. Height, 7 inches.

Fig. 386
Fig. 386

Fig. 386.—Wooden comb, with carved design.

Fig. 387
Fig. 387

Fig. 387.—Cast metal bowl. The small opening at the top is situated in the centre of an incised rosette; this, together with four similar but smaller rosettes, are coated with a copper wash. On the base is a rosette within a circle.

Fig. 388
Fig. 388

Fig. 388.—Cast metal bowl. Distributed over the body of the bowl are eleven finely executed Maltese crosses.

Fig. 389
Fig. 389

Fig. 389.—Quadrangular bronze bell, ornamented on three sides with open reticulated work, framed in by a border of the guilloche pattern. A conventional face, with long hair and beard, is on one of the reticulated sides. Near the base of the ornamented side is a small roughly circular hole. Height, 6 inches.

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