text: Moreover, once these crafts were established, competition between the artisans arose which contributed toward the perfection of their work and, since the possession of objects of value became a tribute to the social prestige of the owner, in some areas certain crafts were protected by the king or by other aristocrats, as in Benin, for example, where the casting of bronze objects was a monopoly held by the king. It may be noteworthy to mention that most of Africa's art objects which now adorn our museums come from these regions. For the benefit of those visiting the University Museum, it might be added that many of the Museum's holdings, which by quality are the best in the United States, were obtained from collections of early travelers.