Notice the menacing jaws, spotted fur, alert ears, and piercing eyes, with a fine sense of overall design.

Pair of Leopards

16th century - bronze

Bronze leopards like this magnificent  pair were placed on royal ancestor alters.  These are aquamanile - water vessels filled throuth the top of the head, from which water could be poured through the nostrils during ceremonies.  The Oba actually kept live leopards at court and employed a special keeper to look after them.