Thorn Carving Item Number: Af420 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Figure representing a dentist wearing a short-sleeved tunic, short pants, and a soft pointed hat. The dentist is standing holding the right hand of his patient with his left hand. The patient is wearing a sleeveless tunic, and short pants, and is sitting on a stool. The dentist is placing a y-shaped wooden implement in the patient's mouth. There are similar implements on a table. The table, tunics, and stool are light yellow-brown. Hat is light red-brown. Limbs and heads are dark brown. Base is brown plywood.

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
Af420
Type of Item
carving
Material
atum thorn, stain, wood, rice adhesive and egun thorn
Manufacturing Technique
carved and glued
Overall
height 10.0 cm, width 8.0 cm, depth 5.3 cm

Who

Culture
Yoruba
Creator
Ukini (Maker)
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
0590/0106