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Description

House with ten figures representing people engaged in a variety of activities. Architectural features include a four-sided peak roof covered with variegated shavings, six square windows, and an open doorway. The sides of the house and the front open area are plastered with a mud and rice glue(?) mixture with variegated chips adhering to it. The interior contains a bed with two pillows and a large pot with a pestle. Activities depicted include sleeping, food preparation, standing at windows, drinking palm wine, carrying a pot, and playing the game ayo. A naked child is sitting on the floor inside and another is standing next to a drinking figure. Sitting adults are wearing shirts and shorts while others are wearing knee-length dresses. Figure carrying pot has a coil on the head. Clothing, calabash, pot, and pestle are light yellow-brown. Human figures, carried pot, gaming board, and small pot are dark brown. Cup, pillows, and head coil are light red-brown.

History Of Use

Thorn carvings are miniatures depicting scenes from Nigerian life. This type of carving began circa 1930. Thorns are carved by men and 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.

Cultural Context

craft; tourist art

Specific Techniques

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.

Narrative

This thorn carving was made specifically for the donors by the artist.