This question was attempted by few candidates. Not many of them knew the origin of the bronze casting of the ancient Benin; they guessed that it was from Egypt, Ghana, etc. But the correct answer is Ife. The Oba of Benin, Oguola, requested from the Oni of Ife, a number of bronze centers which he used to teach Benin how to cast bronze using cireperdue processes.
Candidates generally gave very satisfactory answers to part (b) of the question. They stated as follows:
- A clay model is made and allowed to dry;
- the clay is coated with wax to the required thickness;
- vents and gates are attached to the model to help air to escape when the molten metal is poured;
- the wax model is coated with another layer of clay;
- the core is joined to the outer mould with nails to keep the model in position;
- the clay mould is allowed to dry;
- the wax model is heated, the wax is melted and left with a cavity inside the mould;
- the molten metal is poured to fill the cavity; the metal is allowed to cool;
- the mould is broken -to expose the form;
- the form is filed and polished for good finishing.
