Studio: international art (15.1899)

Primitive Art from Bznin

from Benin have their jackets similarly decorated we
may conclude that one function of the numerous
ivory and brass masks of human, leopard, or croco-
dile representation was to serve either as an
adornment or fetish on native clothing. It should
be mentioned that all the masks in ivory or brass
are furnished with lugs or rings for attachment. A
comparison of the features of the face of this
statuette with those of the neighbouring Sobo
wooden fetish (Fig. 30) shows striking differences
in type and execution and thereby offers a field for
speculation as to the causes of these differences.

fig. 28. carved tusk

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fig. 29. carved tusk

One of the causes is not far to seek. Until the
destruction of Benin the Sobos were subject to the
city, and their country was a happy hunting-ground
for the capture of slaves for human sacrifices of
which we have heard so much, and thus instead of
spreading the somewhat developed art culture
of which she was mistress, Benin used her power
to destroy that little which her neighbours once