Thorn Carving

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.

craft; tourist art

Two figures representing people. One is sitting on a cylindrical stool with the legs bent backwards at the knees, wearing a sleeveless shirt and knee-length pants, and holding a long pole in the left hand. The other figure is standing, bent forward at the waist, wearing a conical hat, a sleeveless shirt, knee-length pants, and holding a club-shaped object in the right hand while resting a machete blade on a high cylindrical table surface. Between the two figures is a fire pit with bellows. Light yellow-brown clothing, stool, pole, and machete handle. Hat and fire ash are light red-brown. Heads, limbs, fire pit, and table are dark brown. On a wood base.