Thorn Carving Item Number: 3326/36 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Thorn carving depicting two figures, one a dentist, the other a patient. Figures adhered to a rectangular pressed board base. One person is seated, while the other stands, bent forward slightly, a holding a stick to the other person's mouth with their right hand. In their left hand they hold a jug, similar to five other containers sitting on a table top next to the two figures.

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.

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

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.

Item History

What

Name
Thorn Carving
Identification Number
3326/36
Type of Item
carving
Material
atum thorn, egun thorn, adhesive and wood
Overall
height 8.5 cm, width 8.5 cm, depth 7.0 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
3326/0036