Thorn Carving Item Number: Af396 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

A figure representing a male with bare feet, a shirt, and short pants bending at the waist, and striking drums with a long straight stick in his right hand and a shorter stick in his left. On the floor, there are three conical drums, two of which have circular heads and the third of which has an oval head and two feet. Drums and figure are glued to a rectangular light brown wooden base. Drum heads, shirt, pants, and drum sticks are light yellow-brown. Drums and limbs 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
Af396
Type of Item
carving
Material
egun thorn, atum thorn, rice adhesive, stain and wood
Manufacturing Technique
carved and glued
Overall
height 6.9 cm, width 8.0 cm, depth 4.0 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
good
Current Location
Case 98
Accession Number
0590/0082