Thorn Carving Item Number: Af411 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Figures representing a woman with a baby in a sling tied to her waist. She is sitting on a stool with her left leg outstretched in front of her and her right leg bent backwards at the knee. She is wearing a sleeved dress and is dipping cloth into a pot. Dress and baby sling are light yellow-brown. Heads, woman's limbs, and stool are dark brown. The pot, cloth, and woman's hands are very dark blue. The base is 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.

Narrative

Depicting cloth dyeing, a woman's activity.

Cultural Context

craft; tourist art

Item History

What

Name
Thorn Carving
Identification Number
Af411
Type of Item
carving
Material
rice adhesive, wood, egun thorn, atum thorn, dye, paper and fibre
Manufacturing Technique
carved and glued
Overall
height 7.9 cm, width 7.8 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
Accession Number
0590/0097