Thorn Carving Item Number: K2.370 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Two figures representing a man, and a woman playing oware game which is in between them. The figures are sitting on a cylindrical object tapering upward. The knees are bent so that the legs are angled frontward and outward. Their hands are extended outward toward the game. Clothes are of a lighter wood colour than the body. Carved in pieces which are then glued together. On a wood base.
History Of Use
Thorn carvings are miniatures depicting a variety of scenes from Nigerian life. The carvings first began to be made circa 1930. The thorns vary in size; they can be as large as 12.7 cm long and 9.6 cm wide. The thorn wood is comparatively soft and easy to carve; they are traditionally carved by men.
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 that was made from rice cooked with water.
Cultural Context
craft; tourist art
Item History
- Made in Kumasi, Ghana
- Collected by Deborah Taylor between 1971 and 1972
- Owned by Deborah Taylor before 1972
- Received from Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source) and Deborah Taylor (Seller) during 1972
What
Who
- Culture
- Yoruba ?
- Field Collector
- Deborah Taylor
- Previous Owner
- Deborah Taylor
- Received from
- Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source) and Deborah Taylor (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Kumasi, Ghana
When
- Collection Date
- between 1971 and 1972
- Ownership Date
- before 1972
- Acquisition Date
- during 1972
Other
- Item Classes
- carvings & sculpture
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0200/0078