Thorn Carving Item Number: 3326/32 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Thorn carving depicting a teaching scene. Figures adhered to a rectangular particle board base with corners cut off. Scene features five figures seated around a panel of text. Four figures hold stick-like objects in their hands, but the figure on the end has an empty hand and appears to be missing his stick.
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.
Narrative
Most of the Nigerian objects in the Lieber collection were assumed to have been collected while Jack Lieber was living in Nigeria, 1965-1970. However one of the thorn carvings was made after 1971, so the dates are uncertain.
Cultural Context
craft; tourist art
Item History
- Made in Ibadan, Nigeria ? during 1970
- Owned by Jack Lieber before 2015
- Owned by Iris Lieber before June 18, 2018
- Received from Iris Lieber (Donor) on June 18, 2018
What
- Name
- Thorn Carving
- Identification Number
- 3326/32
- Type of Item
- carving
- Material
- atum thorn, egun thorn, adhesive and wood
- Overall
- height 7.0 cm, width 18.2 cm, depth 13.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Yoruba
- Previous Owner
- Jack Lieber and Iris Lieber
- Received from
- Iris Lieber (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Ibadan, Nigeria ?
When
- Creation Date
- during 1970
- Ownership Date
- before 2015 and before June 18, 2018
- Acquisition Date
- on June 18, 2018
Other
- Item Classes
- carvings & sculpture
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 3326/0032