Bowl

Item number Af449 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

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Description

A single hardwood piece carving of a kneeling woman with a child on her back. A bowl is supported on her head with four extensions having a chevron design decoration, two of which are extending from the shoulders of the woman and from the head of the child. Both woman and child are wearing belts divided into vertical sections. The woman has two bands on each wrist, and the child has a heart-shaped form on his back suspended from his neck. The woman's hair is upswept. Her face is incised with three horizontal lines on each cheek. The child's face is similarly incised with vertical lines. The features of both faces are exaggerated, and the necks are elongated. The woman is holding the child by the ankles while the child grasps the woman under her arms. The bowl is shallow, rounded at the base, and has a flat-bottomed interior.

History Of Use

Divination bowl. Kola nuts are choicest offerings at all ceremonial functions, both ancient and modern, also used in divination. The collector's notes describe the figure as the mother of twins. Traditionally carved by men.

Cultural Context

offerings; ceremonial

Item History

Made in Nigeria before 1972
Collected during 1972
Owned by Andrew Stewart and Jessie Stewart before February 8, 1980
Received from Andrew Stewart (Donor) and Jessie Stewart (Donor) on February 8, 1980