Is Benin Oliphant European or African

¶ … Benin Oliphant European Africa

Oliphant is a horn which is made of elephant ivory. The word "Oliphant " is an alternate spelling of the word elephant and was the name used in the Middle Ages about hunting horns in ivory made out of the tusk of an elephants. Just at the tip of the horn we get the mouthpiece coming out from fanged jaws of animal head. The surface of the horn is carved all through in low relief; merge images of incredible creatures of European and animals from African like serpents and crocodiles. The base of horn is carved using, the cross of Beja, the Coat of Arms of the Portuguese royal house and an armillary sphere while the base of the horn is fitted with silver-gilt rim.

Ivory hunting horn, of European form, has an opening at the ending. Its decoration is totally in relief, and is made of principal scenes of hunting. Its mouthpiece issues from an animal head covered in a type of head stall; an elevated band divides this from a short division in the shape of a twisted and ribbed column, the hollows and ribs are beaded. These two successive partitions which are separated from one another by a band similar to a heraldic torse, has scenes from the chase such as a man in high boots and cap, he is hunting a stag with dogs, blowing his horn and grip a single dog using a twisted cord; a certain European show aggression to a stag face-to-face using a spear; a tiger is attacked by a lion wearing a crown; as well as a centaur who is shooting an arrow towards a creature who is harpy-like and is attacking its hind-quarters. Partitions to the ends have as well comparable scenes of hunting, as well as flying birds, along with a central device two huge birds having long necks intertwined symmetrically. To the other side of these is the Portugal shield, the ending of the lower point is in form of twisted bar, which is in custody by an angel. We have the shield which is surmounted through a crown that covers the three castles that are suppose to finish the border in chief. The opposite side of the horn has the armillary sphere which brings about the Brazil arms, conquered by a pennon and cross. Amid the two we have the military Order of Christ cross. Such cross having armillary sphere is seen on the Portugal coins as from the ending of the fifteenth century. Like a way of suspension of two snakes and crocodiles bodies are in relief within the inner curve. Its mouth is preserved by means of a European mount of copper gilt.'