Thorn Carving Item Number: Af385 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Standing figure representing a person wearing a soft pointed hat, a short-sleeved shirt, and knee-length trousers. Figure is carrying a pack sack on his back supported by a stick extending from his right hand to his shoulder. Pack sack contains a shaped container and a decorated rolled object. Head, limbs, and pack sack are dark brown. Clothing, hat, roll, and stick are light yellow-brown. The base is light brown wood.
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.
craft; tourist art