Accession No
Z 14236
Description
A double bell of sheet iron attached at the top by a small handle. The bells open downwards and have no clappers. They are painted with white pigment around the edge on both sides. There is some rust present.
Place
Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; Anambra State; Awgbu [Obu]
Period
Source
Thomas, Northcote Whitridge [field collector]; Bevan, Anthony Ashley (Professor) [monetary donor]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
Z 14236; 380 [Thomas Coll. - 2nd Cat.]; 619 [Thomas Coll. label]
Cultural Affliation
Igbo
Material
Metal; Iron; Pigment
Local Term
ogene
Measurements
240mm x 60mm x 330mm
Events
Description (Labels & Markings)
MAA luggage tag attached with string reads: 'Z 14236 / S. NIGERIA / OBU'
On rear: '(T.C. 380) / 'OGENE' '
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Physical description)
Bell of iron for singing, double, joined by handle at top, long.
Event Date
Author: maa
Context (Auction / Sale)
Annual Report for 1910 notes that the N.W. Thomas Collection, illustrative of the ethnology of the Yoruba, Kukuruku and Esa, collected 1909-10, was purchased with Prof Bevan's subscription to the Accessions Fund.
Event Date
Author: maa
Description (Labels & Markings)
Thomas label adhered to object reads: '519 | 380 / Bell for singing; iron, double. / Obu'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Context (Amendments / updates)
(Bio) Professor Bevan
(Bio) N.W. Thomas, Nigerian Government Anthroplogist/Ethnologist of the colony, M.A.Trinity College
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Context (Field collection)
The Annual Report for 1913 notes that the 2nd N.W. Thomas Collection, was made from among the Ijo and Ibo. The two were to be amalgamated. The Annual Report for 1915 notes a preliminary catalogue was compiled from the collectors notes.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Labels & Markings)
Written in pencil on white pigment: '380'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Context ()
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
Context (Amendments / updates)
Record updated as part of the Museum Affordances project 2018-2020
Event Date 22/8/2018
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Physical description)
A double bell of sheet iron attached at the top by a small handle. The bells open downwards and have no clappers. They are painted with white pigment around the edge on both sides. There is some rust present.
Event Date 22/8/2018
Author: Katrina Dring
Loan (Exhibition)
Brunei Gallery, SOAS, London, 14/10/2020 to 19/12/2020, [Re:]Entanglements
[loan cancelled]
Event Date 14/10/2020
Author: Katrina Dring
Conservation (Remedial)
CON.2020.4868 | Remedial
Event Date 3/11/2020
Author: Stefanie Mueller
Context (Display)
On display in [Re:]Entanglements: Colonial collections in decolonial times 22 June 2021 – 20 April 2022, as number '0'.
The open-display plinth recreated the objects featured in a fieldwork photograph in Obu by Northcote Thomas (MAA P.31227).
The display text noted '[Re:]Assemblage. Assembling collections of artefacts was a key part of the anthropological surveys led by Northcote Thomas. During their fieldwork with Igbo-speaking communities in 1910-11, Thomas and his assistants arranged artefacts in front of a canvas backdrop and photographed them as they were collected.
Everyday objects like cooking utensils and storage baskets were placed alongside musical instruments, political regalia, masks and shrine figures. Each item had a label attached with a number, its local name and a brief description of its use. A yam grater was treated no differently to the staff of an ozo title holder.
The canvas sheet was intended to isolate the objects from their local contexts. Our restaging, with its eye-catching backdrop designed by artist Alafuro Sikoki, draws attention to the context of colonial collecting.'
Event Date 22/6/2021
Author: rachel hand
Context (Display)
On display in [Re:]Entanglements: Colonial collections in decolonial times, LKS Gallery, MAA, 22 June 2021 – 20 April 2022, as number '374'. The open-display plinth recreated the objects featured in a fieldwork photograph in Obu by Northcote Thomas (MAA P.31227).
The display text noted '[Re:]Assemblage. Assembling collections of artefacts was a key part of the anthropological surveys led by Northcote Thomas. During their fieldwork with Igbo-speaking communities in 1910-11, Thomas and his assistants arranged artefacts in front of a canvas backdrop and photographed them as they were collected.
Everyday objects like cooking utensils and storage baskets were placed alongside musical instruments, political regalia, masks and shrine figures. Each item had a label attached with a number, its local name and a brief description of its use. A yam grater was treated no differently to the staff of an ozo title holder.
The canvas sheet was intended to isolate the objects from their local contexts. Our restaging, with its eye-catching backdrop designed by artist Alafuro Sikoki, draws attention to the context of colonial collecting.'
Event Date 22/6/2021
Author: rachel hand
Context (Display)
Label text for assemblage plinth in Re-Entanglements exhibition reads:
[Re:]Assemblage
Assembling collections of artefacts was a key part of the anthropological surveys led by Northcote Thomas. During their fieldwork with Igbo-speaking communities in 1910-11, Thomas and his assistants arranged artefacts in front of a canvas backdrop and photographed them as they were collected.
Everyday objects like cooking utensils and storage baskets were placed alongside musical instruments, political regalia, masks and shrine figures. Each item had a label attached with a number, its local name and a brief description of its use. A yam grater was treated no differently to the staff of an ozo title holder.
The canvas sheet was intended to isolate the objects from their local contexts. Our restaging, with its eye-catching backdrop designed by artist Alafuro Sikoki, draws attention to the context of colonial collecting.
Event Date 27/4/2022
Author: Flo Sutton
FM:125106
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