Accession No
Z 25223
Description
Okua. Wooden carving of a figure with geometric abstract body. The figure is wearing a cap and has scarification marks above the eyes. There appears to be a ridged collar around the neck, and below this the body is a twisted, ridged cylinder.
Place
Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; Edo State; Benin City
Period
Source
Thomas, Northcote Whitridge [field collector]; Bevan, Anthony Ashley (Prof.) [monetary donor]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
Z 25223; 302 [Thomas Collection Number - 1st Catalogue]; ?301
Cultural Affliation
Edo
Material
Wood
Local Term
okua; ?erhe; ?aluelimi
Measurements
80mm x 310mm x 85mm
Events
Description (Labels & Markings)
Luggage tag (very damaged) attached with string reads: '[3]02 | ?[Okya] / Bini'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Physical description)
Carved wooden figure (okua): a man's head on a cylindrical, incised base. (To be placed on an altar?)
Event Date
Author: maa
Context (Related Documents)
See reverse of catalogue card for pencil drawing
Event Date
Author: maa
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
Context (Related Documents)
It is unclear whether 301 is the Thomas Collection number. The 1st Thomas Catalogue notes for 301: "Big man sit on erhe; left for aluelimi". The object numbered 301, a stool, has already been found. It is possible that the numbers have become confused.
Event Date 22/8/2001
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Labels & Markings)
The number '301' has been written on the object in pencil.
Event Date 19/1/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson
Context (Amendments / updates)
The number written on the base of the object may read: '302' rather than '301'. The Thomas 1st catalogue entry for 302 reads: 'Okua; men have it', which seems to correspond with the information on the luggage tag.
Event Date 5/9/2018
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Physical description)
Wooden carving of a figure with geometric abstract body. The figure is wearing a cap and has scarification marks above the eyes. There appears to be a ridged collar around the neck, and below this the body is a twisted, ridged cylinder. There is a small amount of red ?pigment or clay on the cap.
Event Date 5/9/2018
Author: Katrina Dring
Context (Amendments / updates)
Record updated as part of the Museum Affordances project 2018-2020
Event Date 5/9/2018
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Physical description)
Figure appears unused with no usewear or marks on base to suggest it stood upright. Probably new and commissioned by N.W. Thomas.
Event Date 8/10/2021
Author: rachel hand
FM:125476
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