Accession No

Z 25245


Description

Okeeke. Carved wooden figure, possibly for holding rollers onto a weaving loom. Male figure with short legs and a long torso, with hands resting on chest and knees slightly bent, stood on a round base. Reddish-orange pigment on surface.


Place

Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; Edo State; Uzebba [Ijeba]


Period


Source

Thomas, Northcote Whitridge [field collector]; Bevan, Anthony Ashley (Prof.) [monetary donor]


Department

Anth


Reference Numbers

Z 25245


Cultural Affliation

Edo; Yekhee


Material

Wood; Pigment


Local Term

Okeeke


Measurements

90mm x 240mm x 90mm


Events

Description (Labels & Markings)
Thomas label indicates some confusion. It reads: 'T.C. [underlined space] / Figurine, (?) from Loom'
'from Loom' has been scribbled out in pencil at another date.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring


Description (Physical description)
Carved wooden figure of a man standing with knees bent. The figure is of a reddish-brown colour (camwood dye?). The card attached to the figure reads "Figurine, (?) from loom."

Event Date
Author: maa


Description (Physical description)
One small chip missing from the base. Cracks in the wood in the head and the base of the figurine. Insect debris found in the cracks in the base. [K. Sutton]
Event Date 24/5/2001
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: maa


Context (Analysis)
Okeeke, an instrument used for holding rollers on the weaving loom. Wooden human figure. similar to ? (OP to verify). The head has an unusual shape, with heavily stylised facial features tending towards recent Yoruba carving styles. The artist has a clear understanding of form. A cylindrical neck sits on very square shoulders, out of which arms, elbows and hands emanate. The underarms are resting on the chest. The torso is cylindrical, slightly larger than the neck. Shortened legs emerge from the end of the torso with stocky feet that rest on a round base. It has a very prominent representation of male genitalia. The back of the object is flat with the exception of prominent ears, shoulder blades and the buttocks. The figure is freestanding.
Information provided by Dr Ohioma Pogoson, Honorary Curator of the Museum of the Institute for African Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. January 2013.
Event Date 1/2013
Author: maa


Context (Field collection)
Collected by Northcote W. Thomas in Edo State, Ijeba (now Uzebba) town. The inhabitants belong to the Edo ethnic group, and also identify themselves further as Yekhee people. The language they speak is also referred to as Yekhee. See Blench, R. M., 1995. The Work of N.W. Thomas as Government Anthropologist in Nigeria. The Nigerian Field, 60, pp.29.
Purchased using money from Prof. A.A. Bevan’s subscription to the Museum’s Accessions Fund.
Event Date 12/2/2013
Author: Remke van der Velden


Description (Labels & Markings)
Accession label reads: 'Z 25245 / Uzebbu(Ijeba)'
Event Date 12/7/2018
Author: Katrina Dring


Description (Physical description)
Figure, possibly for loom. Male figure with hands resting on chest and knees slightly bent. Reddish-orange pigment on surface. Figure stands on a circular base which has a chip missing at the rear.
Event Date 12/7/2018
Author: Katrina Dring


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

Event Date 12/7/2018
Author: Katrina Dring


Description (Physical description)
Okeeke. Carved wooden figure, possibly for holding rollers onto a weaving loom. Male figure with short legs and a long torso, with hands resting on chest and knees slightly bent, stood on a round base. Reddish-orange pigment on surface.
Event Date 19/10/2021
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff


FM:125498

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