Thorn Carving Item Number: Af434 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Two figures representing bareheaded males sitting on cylindrical stools facing each other. A black and white checkered board is balancing on their knees with three dark and three light checkers on the board. Clothing is light yellow-brown. Limbs, heads, and stools are dark brown. Base is of light brown wood.
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.
Cultural Context
craft; tourist art
Narrative
It appears that a game of checkers is depicted in this carving.
Item History
- Made by Ukini (Maker) 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
What
- Name
- Thorn Carving
- Identification Number
- Af434
- Type of Item
- carving
- Material
- atum thorn, ink, wood, rice adhesive and egun thorn
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved and glued
- Overall
- height 7.5 cm, width 8.0 cm, depth 4.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Yoruba
- Creator
- Ukini (Maker)
- 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
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 100
- Accession Number
- 0590/0120