Description (Physical description)
Figurine for loom, two human figures back to back
Event Date
Author: maa

Description (Labels & Markings)
Thomas label adhered inside base reads: '840 | Okpe | 1689 / Z.13010 / Figuines for Loom, two back to back.'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Field collection)
Collected by Northcote W. Thomas in Edo State, Okpe town. The inhabitants belong to the Edo ethnic group, and also identify themselves further as Okpe people. The language they speak is also referred to as Okpe. 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
Author: Remke van der Velden

Context (Related Documents)
Photograph of objects on reverse of catalogue card
See E 1910.118 and E 1913.3 records for further details about the Thomas Collection from Nigeria'. [T.Cotterill,7/5/2001.]
Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Analysis)
Figurine for loom. Janus figure with the two figures positioned back to back until waist level. Wood. The figures are male and female. Clearly defined facial features including the eyes, lips and mouth and big ears. Each head has its own neck, which allows for a cavity between the two. At the point of the backs the figures are joined again, but below the backs a small cavity is visible. The arms are carved like reliefs on the body. The breasts of the female figure are indicated. The hands of the figures are placed in front of the torso with the hands on the chest. The stomach of the female figure is larger than that of the male. Below the figures the functional part of the object starts; two legs emanate from a horizontal plane. There are holes in both legs, which appear to have a functional purpose. There are signs that the holes were used as a fulcrum because of the visible wear of the holes. The wear is heavier in one of the holes. Possibly this object is an okeeke, an instrument used for holding rollers on the weaving loom. It is usually situated above the head of the weaver and linked with the pedals that alternate the cotton for weaving. There are usually two sets of spun cotton for weaving. The cottons are separated alternately. This is to allow the two sets to alternate moving up and down. Each time they alternate the up and down movement, the shuttle with its cotton is passed through, thus allowing for a kind of mat weaving effect. The mechanism attached to the two sets of strings that allows for the easy to and fro rotation of the cotton sets is the okeeke. In between the prongs of the carved wood there would be a reel/roller to which the extended strings from the pedals are attached. [Information provided by Dr Ohioma Pogoson, Honorary Curator of the Museum of the Institute for African Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.]
Event Date 1/2013
Author: maa

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)
Loom figure carved from wood. Male and female figures from waist up with hands on chest/belly, and arranged back to back. Female figure has triangular breasts carved in low relief. The figures sit on top of the loom attachment, both arms have a large hole through them for the loom string.
Event Date 12/7/2018
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Loom attachment carved from wood. It consists of a wooden bracket with hole drilled through each arm for the loom string. On top of the bracket is two carved figures, one male and one female, back to back. Both figures are depicted from the waist up, and have their hands resting with their palms against their abdomens. The female figure has triangular breasts carved in low relief.
Event Date 19/10/2021
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff