Thorn Carving Item Number: Af397 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Two figures representing people. One is a man with a bare head, and feet, and he is wearing knee-length pants and a shirt while he is bending at the waist with his fingers touching the head of a round drum which rests on the floor. The drum base has a large human ritualistic face carved on the front. Facing the man, there is a woman wearing a knee-length pleated skirt, and standing with her arms bent, and outstretched with her feet apart, and appearing to be dancing. Clothes and drum head are light yellow-brown. Skin, hair, and drum base are dark brown. The figures are mounted on a rectangular wood base.

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
Af397
Type of Item
carving
Material
atum thorn, rice adhesive, stain, wood and egun thorn
Manufacturing Technique
carved and glued
Overall
height 9.0 cm, width 10.3 cm, depth 4.8 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
good
Accession Number
0590/0083