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 men with bare heads, and feet. Both are wearing short pants and shirts, and stand bent forward facing each other. One is holding a double-headed pressure hourglass drum under his left arm. A strip of black cloth with yellow stripes is attached to the drum and goes over the man's left arm. His right hand is holding a bent drum stick against one end of the drum. The other man is holding a flat triangular object like a folded cloth used by a dancer. Both figures are bowing slightly. Heads, limbs, body of drum, and drum stick are dark brown. Clothes, drum head, and folded clothes are light yellow-brown. On a wood base.