Thorn Carving Item Number: Af386 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Figure representing a bearded man sitting on a cylindrical stool. He is bare-chested, wearing a soft pointed hat and knee-length pants. He is holding a gourd-shaped container in his left hand and a cone-shaped cup in his right. In front of him, there are two bulbous-shaped containers with necks. Behind him, there is a tree trunk. Pants are light yellow-brown. Head, limbs, tree trunk, and stool are dark brown. Containers are light red-brown. The base is light brown wood.

History Of Use

Thorn carvings are miniatures depicting scenes from Nigerian life. This type of carving began circa 1930. Thorns are carved by men and 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.

Cultural Context

craft; tourist art

Iconographic Meaning

The beard indicates the man is an elder. The containers and cup in the carving would contain palm wine.

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 from rice cooked with water.

Narrative

This thorn carving was made specifically for the donors by the artist.

Item History

What

Name
Thorn Carving
Identification Number
Af386
Type of Item
carving
Material
atum thorn, egun thorn, rice adhesive and wood
Manufacturing Technique
carved and glued
Overall
height 8.5 cm, width 8.4 cm, depth 4.4 cm

Who

Culture
Yoruba
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
0590/0072