Thorn Carving Item Number: Af421 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

A carved scene of a tree trunk covered with thorns and having a five-rung ladder set against the side. There is a bareheaded man on the third rung with a hatchet over his right shoulder. A man with a conical hat is on the ground holding the right side of the ladder and with a machete in his left hand. A basket is sitting on the ground to the left of the ladder. The men are wearing short-sleeved loose shirts and knee- length pants. The ground is covered with chips and shavings. Shirts, pants, machete, and basket are light yellow-brown. Heads, limbs, and hatchet are dark brown. Man's hat is light red-brown. The ladder is light brown wood. The base is covered in variegated thorn bush shavings.

History Of Use

Thorn carvings are miniatures depicting scenes from Nigerian life. This type of carving began circa 1930. Thorns vary in size. They can be as large as 12.7 cm. long and 9.6 cm. wide. They are comparatively soft and easily carved. The light yellow-brown thorn and the dark brown thorn come from the Ata tree; the light red-brown thorn comes from Egun trees. The parts are glued together with viscous paste made from rice cooked with water. They are carved by men.

Narrative

Depicts thorn gathering, a men's activity.

Cultural Context

craft; tourist art

Item History

What

Name
Thorn Carving
Identification Number
Af421
Type of Item
carving
Material
egun thorn, rice adhesive, atum thorn, wood and stain
Manufacturing Technique
carved and glued
Overall
height 19.3 cm, width 17.8 cm, depth 11.8 cm

Who

Culture
Yoruba
Previous Owner
Andrew Stewart and Jessie Stewart
Received from
Andrew Stewart (Donor) and Jessie Stewart (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Nigeria

When

Creation Date
before 1972
Collection Date
during 1972
Ownership Date
before February 8, 1980
Acquisition Date
on February 8, 1980

Other

Item Classes
carvings & sculpture
Condition
poor
Accession Number
0590/0107