Description (Physical description)
'Large' wooden mask of egbu wood, painted yellow, black and white; middle shows how hair was dressed for dancing; at each side is a bird with a comb on either side of each
'Large' has been added in different handwriting
Event Date
Author: maa

---

Description (Labels & Markings)
Round tag tied to object reads: '1/c'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Description (Labels & Markings)
Thomas label adhered to inside of mask reads: '756 | 390 / Mask (isi abogefi) of egbu wood, painted yellow, black and white. Shows how hair was drrssed for dance, alos two birds and two combs / Aguku'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Description (Labels & Markings)
MAA luggage tag reads: 'Wording on original label inside / Thomas Coll. S. Nigeria 1910-13 / 756 | 390 | MASK / 9isi abogeti) of egbu / Aguku'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Description (Labels & Markings)
MAA label reads: 'Z 13689 / Wood mask / Nibo / N.W Thomas Coll'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Context (Related Documents)
There is a detailed description of the mask and its use in the 2nd Thomas Collection Catalogue, p.15.

Event Date
Author: maa

---

Context (Related Documents)
There is uncertainty regarding the ethnic groups from Thomas Numbers 390-399. There is a loose note in the Thomas Collection 2nd catalogue p.15, "that no's 390-399 are filed under Nibo in the card catalogue." 'Aguku' on page 15 of the Thomas catalogue is crossed out. "They have been attributed to Nibo by R.M.Blanch on the basis of the card catalogue". [R.Hand]

Event Date 11/5/2000
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Context (Related Documents)
See E 1910.118 and E 1913.3 records for further details about the Thomas Collection from Nigeria. [T.Cotterill]
Event Date 7/5/2001
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Publication (Online Only)
Basu, Paul (2018) Meeting themselves again. An object-oriented perspective? . ; . https://re-entanglements.net/object-oriented-perspective/?fbclid=IwAR2XfOVA_90O-PC4eo6fexBAjlC8RBcceI-8W-hdsOBtCxF4go9h4WnXk9Y
Event Date 2018
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Conservation (Assessment Only)
CON.2018.4205 | Assessment Only
Event Date 19/10/2018
Author: Kirstie Williams

---

Loan (Analysis)
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 23/11/2018 to 31/07/2020, Conservation of artefacts from the Northcote Thomas (West Africa) collection to be carried out by students on the MSc. In Conservation for Archaeology & Museums, in preparation for an exhibition in SOAS and MAA in 2020/2021.
Event Date 23/11/2018
Author: rachel hand

---

Context (Field collection)
The mask, Z 13689, was photographed by Thomas propped up on a book and against a canvas backdrop, probably during fieldwork. This is shown in N.78430.NWT, Image 335049.
Event Date 26/11/2018
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Context (Amendments / updates)
Record updated as part of the Museum Affordances project 2018-2020

Event Date 2/8/2018
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Context (Amendments / updates)
A broken piece of the lip was found loose in the box and has been bagged and tied to the object.
Event Date 2/8/2018
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Description (Physical description)
A face mask with elaborate headdress including combs, birds and crests. There are scarification marks on the face, over the eyebrows and down the forehead as well as either side of the eyes. The hair has been carefully detailed and is arranged in spirals, with four combs vertically extending upwards and birds in between. The main crest has a large, diamond shaped section, flanked by two horns and two curved sections with upturned bells above. The whole is painted in yellow, black, white and red, and has holes for the attachment of costume elements. Pieces of the lip and left ear have been broken off and many of the protruding elements have been repaired with glue, sheet metal and nails. It is mounted onto a base with copper wire.
Event Date 2/8/2018
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Loan (Analysis)
Department of Conservation, UCL Institute of Archaeology, 31-4 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0TY for conservation before exhibition as part of the Museum Affordances Project, 19/2/2019, 19/02/2019 to 29/02/2020, Museum Affordances project
Event Date 19/2/2019
Author: rachel hand

---

Loan (Exhibition)
Brunei Gallery, SOAS, London, 14/10/2020 to 19/12/2020, [Re:]Entanglements
Event Date 14/10/2020
Author: Katrina Dring

---

Conservation (Remedial)
CON.2021.5006 | Remedial
Event Date 21/4/2021
Author: Stefanie Mueller

---

Context (Display)
Label text for Colonial Entanglements case in Re-Entanglements exhibition reads:

The making of a colonial anthropological archive

What purpose do historical anthropological collections serve? How does the contested history of empire affect their status today?

Northcote Whitridge Thomas (1868-1936) was the first ‘Government Anthropologist’ appointed by the British Colonial Office. Between 1909 and 1915 he led four anthropological surveys in Southern Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

Thomas and his African assistants travelled widely, documenting and photographing many aspects of social and cultural life. They recorded local languages, songs and stories on wax cylinders. They made collections of artefacts and plant specimens.

The surveys were intended to support colonial administration. Despite the wealth of materials and knowledge gathered, their usefulness was constantly questioned by the colonial authorities. In 1915 the initiative was brought to an end and the assembled materials were dispersed to different institutions, where they lay dormant for over 100 years.



Event Date 27/4/2022
Author: Flo Sutton