Context (CMS Context)
Black and white photograph attached to rear of catalogue card

Event Date 10/7/2000
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Carved bottle top, 2 animal heads.

Event Date 10/7/2000
Author: maa

Description (Labels & Markings)
Old label adhered to object reads: 'Two human heads.'
Event Date 25/5/2001
Author: Jazmin Hundal

Context (Acquisition Details)
See E 1910.118 and E 1913.3 records for further details about the Thomas Collection from Nigeria.
Event Date 7/5/2001
Author: Jazmin Hundal

Context (Acquisition Details)
Collected by Northcote W. Thomas in Edo State, Sabongida (now Sabongidda Ora) town. The inhabitants belong to the Edo ethnic group, and also identify themselves further as Ora people. The language they speak is also referred to as Ora. 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 10/12/2012
Author: Remke van der Velden

Description (Physical description)
Bottle stopper. Profusely decorated. Many geometric patterns on stopper base; triangles, squares, rectangles etc. Stopper has an overall triangular shape that ends in a flat representation of two human heads. One head has an unusual face mark, a stroke from below the eyes to the mouth, making it look more like an animal than a human figure (although I still believe them to be human). Jaws protrude heavily outside the overall stopper triangle shape. Small harness hole where the heads back on to each other. Unique in its decoration, reminiscent of the design on Yoruba woodcarvings of the 19th century. Information provided by Dr Ohioma Pogoson, Honorary Curator of the Museum of the Institute for African Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. November 2012.

Event Date 4/12/2012
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Carved wooden bottle stopper. Comprises of a rounded top with two back-to-back heads above, and a long protrusion below which narrows towards the tip; heads are possibly animal. Exterior of rounded top features various incised geometric decoration. crack in wood on one side of top.
Event Date 6/10/2021
Author: Jazmin Hundal