Outside influences—Benin bronzes—Other African curios.

There are few collections of copper and brass without a fair sprinkling of curiously formed and often crude objects which we class under the generic term "native curios." There is much that is of extreme interest in the work of the smiths and founders of races possessing but little apparent touch with civilized nations; for such metal objects are true guides to the state of the advancement of the peoples of the countries from which such curios come. We delight in the art of early Eastern nations, and find much to admire in the almost barbaric ornament of Asiatic metal-workers of mediÆval and even later days, as counted by the progress made by European artists at contemporary dates. The marvellous skill with which the natives of India and other Asiatic countries incised and inlaid their metal wares has already been pointed out. There is, however, an especial charm about the metal-work of nations we are apt to class as "savage," or at least untutored, if not uncivilized. And we would not have it otherwise, for it is from these curios—metal and of other materials—that we are enabled to trace the influences of other countries with whom those races or tribes have had dealings in the past. We are to some extent able from these antiquities to connect the links in the chain of nations, and from the characteristics of their art (?) to settle their origin and affinity to other races.

Outside Influences.

The Ethnological Gallery of the British Museum is one of the finest instructors. The silent exhibits tell the observant man or woman, boy or girl, much that cannot be learned from book knowledge. In the cases in that gallery are many objects fashioned by peoples who until recently were in their Stone Age, and had no knowledge of the outer world. There are some who from the curios—old and new—have apparently, until taught their use by travellers and traders from the far-off West, never discovered the value of metals. Some of the native races—not a few of them fellow-subjects of the Empire—as yet prefer wood, stone, and crude pottery vessels and utensils to metal, judging from the very limited use of the few brass or copper objects they possess, those few, probably, being imported. The ethnology of the race is traced in these relics, especially in the really old ones. In a few instances by way of contrast, metal objects, although so limited, are conspicuous. They are chiefly confined to the native countries brought under the influence of more advanced peoples; as instanced by the work of the Sinhalese, the natives of Ceylon, who early came into touch with the metal-workers of India. Another native race by their wealth of rare metallic curios, the art of producing which they have lost, are shown to be a people with a past; thus it is with the tribes of Southern Nigeria in and around Benin City. On the occasion of its capture by the British in 1897, it was found to possess a remarkable store of wonderful bronzes, evidently of the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries. In these and other native curios the collector revels, and in their study finds history, geography, and even the folk-lore of nations revealed; for in such curios there are stories in brass of social life, religious functions, ceremonies, and sacrifices.

The Benin Bronzes.

A few years ago very many bronzes (nearly pure copper) were sold under the hammer. They were looted from Benin City during the war which ended in the country in and around the city being taken by the British troops, and eventually incorporated in Southern Nigeria. These wonderful bronzes throw a light upon the history of that country, and tell of a powerful nation far advanced in the art of modelling and casting metals long before they had come into close touch with Western influence. This remarkable people who possessed so much wealth in copper and in ivory have long gone; their descendants or the tribes occupying their city have no knowledge of the craft, and apparently retained these relics of barbaric splendour with silent awe. The entire series of bronze panels from which the figures so cleverly stand out in bold relief, must have presented a wonderful sight to the British soldiers as they entered Benin. The collection in the British Museum was sent home to this country by Sir Ralph Moor, K.C.M.G., H.M. Commissioner and Consul-General for the Niger Coast Protectorate. It is impossible to describe their beauty or the details of the elaborate modelling of the dress, arms, and costumes of the Benin king and his chiefs and officers as they existed in the sixteenth century. There is a model of the king's house, his attendant guards, high officials, a sword-bearer, and another bearing a ceremonial axe. Some of the bronzes represent musicians playing various instruments, and others performing all kinds of functions. The bronze panels of fishes and animals are very lifelike, especially bulls, crocodiles, and the heads of oxen, even the twisted cords with which the animals were tethered being correctly modelled. The bronzes representing Europeans are exceptionally valuable in that from the costumes portrayed the date of those bronzes has been fixed, approximately. The matchlocks and flint-guns are reproduced with the greatest exactitude, as also the Egyptian figures, copied presumably from the remains of Ancient Egypt, with which these metal-workers were evidently familiar.

In addition to the panels of copper, which show marks of how they were attached to the walls, were bronze masks or warriors' heads which served as stands for the splendidly carved tusks of ivory also discovered when the expedition visited that country. There are many minor objects in bronze which show that this remarkable civilization, now lost, was far advanced in the arts.

As it has been suggested Benin relics are not entirely confined to museum specimens, and collectors are not without opportunities of securing pieces.

Many of the early tribes of Africa had knowledge of metal-working, although some have lost or neglected to practice it.

Other African Curios.

Some metal curios were included in the trophies brought to this country at the time of the Ashanti Expedition, among the rare regal metal-work being an old brass vase, with repoussÉ decorations and a copper dragon handle. It was discovered behind the house of King Prempeh's aunt, who had been acting as Regent. Another curio discovered in the same district was a brass box containing gold dust. Bells, too, have been brought from Ashanti; one in the British Museum is the executioner's bell, which was rang prior to an execution.

There are many bronzes from Southern Nigeria, especially some curious ornaments worn by the women. Some of these are veritable antiques and were found buried; many are finely patinated and heavy. Some of the bangles are beautifully formed and highly decorated with inlaid enamels.

Some very interesting brass castings come from Lagos, not at all unlike the Benin modelling, except that they are in brass instead of pure copper. They include figures of natives, some on horseback, others in the act of shooting with guns. There are brass staves of office carried as symbols of authority by the messengers of the Oshogbo, a native secret society; and there are spoons, knives and other domestic sundries, as well as armlets and anklets of copper and brass.

From north-east Central Africa we get a little metal-work, some of the head-dress ornaments being enriched with circular brass plates, on which are repoussÉ decorations. Among the curios from this district in the British Museum are several exceptional pieces, one being a head-dress or helmet of brass with circular brass ornaments.

The knives used in ceremonials are often very handsome. There is a fine executioner's knife from north-east Central Africa, with brass studs all over the wood handle. Another chief's knife, which came from near the Stanley Falls, is decorated with strips of copper and brass.

The metal castings from Central Sudan, representing ostriches, giraffes, and camels, are cleverly done, and with bangles and anklets make up an interesting group.

It is curious how valuable finds are sometimes made many miles from the locality where the object was made. It is the same in our own country, for we dig and find a bronze from ancient Rome, brought over by the conquering armies of the Romans when Britain was brought under the Imperial sway. Our armies have probably left relics behind them in the past as in the present, for it is no uncommon thing for reminders of the Crusaders and others to be found even in Africa. One of the most remarkable finds was a large bronze jug and cover now in the British Museum; on it are the arms of Richard II of England, and two mottoes in Lombardic letters: "HE THAT WILL NOT SPARE WHEN HE MAY, HE SHALL NOT SPEND WHEN HE WOULD" is one; the other reads: "DEEM THE BEST IN EVERY DOUBT TILL THE TRUTH BE TRIED OUT." This splendid jug was found in Ashanti; the date of its manufacture was about A.D. 1400.

The South African curios in brass are very limited; they consist chiefly of collars and armlets worn by the women of Basutoland and Bechuanaland, and by the Kaffir women who have also girdles of brass cleverly formed.

Although by no means numerous and of limited variety, a few objects of native workmanship are worth securing if only to compare the way in which natural ingenuity has at different times helped the craftsman and enabled him to work even metals without any instructions from nations more advanced in their use.

XVI
CONTINENTAL
COPPER
AND BRASS