Thorn Carving
About this object
History of use
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.
Cultural context
craft; tourist art
Physical description
Two figures representing a man and a woman. The woman is kneeling with hands crossed on top of her head, bare breasted with a long skirt. Man is barefoot, standing, wearing a cap, a shirt, a vest, and knee-length pants while he is holding a drumstick in his right hand. He is striking the lower of two hourglass shaped drums suspended from his left shoulder on a ribbon harness. A shrine with a smooth back carved with two faces on the front holds a hen on top. Heads, limbs, drum, and drumstick are dark brown. Woman's skirt, hat, and hen are light red-brown. Man's vest, shirt, pants, drum heads, and shrine are light yellow-brown. All set on a light brown plywood base.
Categories
Date Made
Before 1972
Date Acquired
8 Feb 1980
How Acquired
Donated
Credit Line
Measurements
Overall: 9.3 cm x 9.8 cm x 5.4 cm
Object Number
Af356