Thorn Carving Item Number: Af395 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Two figures representing a man and a woman standing on a wooden base. The man is wearing a pleated brimmed hat, a sleeveless loose tunic, and knee-length pants. He is sitting on a small cylindrical stool, holding between his legs a conical one-headed drum with striated sides. His arms are bending, and his fingers are resting on the edge of the drumhead. The woman is wearing a large softly draped hat, and a knee-length dress with elbow-length sleeves. She is standing with her feet slightly apart, and her arms slightly bent. She is bending forward as if bowing from the waist. Hats, dress, shirt, drumhead, and stool are light yellow-brown. Skin and drum body are dark brown.

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

Item History

What

Name
Thorn Carving
Identification Number
Af395
Type of Item
carving
Material
egun thorn, rice adhesive, atum thorn, wood and stain
Manufacturing Technique
carved and glued
Overall
height 8.0 cm, width 8.5 cm, depth 5.0 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
fair
Current Location
Case 98
Accession Number
0590/0081