Context (Amendments / updates)
In the accession register, Z 11917 is a comb. A "small wooden bird, part of mask + mask" has been added to the entry. Z 11918 is a mask. It appears that two masks have been given the number Z 11918.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card: 'Wooden comb, plain on reverse.'
In pencil: 'There are 2 similar combs with this number'.
In different handwriting: 'Another object with this number is a small, carved bird of wood - part of a mask (ogbodu).'


Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Labels & Markings)
Written in pencil on bird: '2729'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Labels & Markings)
Thomas label adhered to bird reads: '2272 | Agenibode | 2729 / Mask, part of, (ogbodu), wood, small bird'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Field collection)
Collected by Northcote W. Thomas in Edo State, Agenibode (now Agene(g)bode) 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 Etsako. See Blench, R. M., 1995. The Work of N.W. Thomas as Government Anthropologist in Nigeria. The Nigerian Field, 60, pp.29.

Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Auction / Sale)
Purchased using money from Prof. A.A. Bevan’s subscription to the Museum’s Accessions Fund.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Related Documents)
In different handwriting on catalogue card: 'Another object, which has the number 2729 marked clearly on it, which should therefore be Z 11917 also is the wooden mask described on next card. It had been given the number Z 11918, but this would seem to belong to another mask, numbered 2730 and also Z 11918. I have therefore changed the numbering and made a new card. (K.H.).'


Event Date
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: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Wooden bird, no longer attached to the mask [Z 11917.1]. Insect damage to the bird. [K. Sutton]
Event Date 11/6/2001
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
The mask [Z 11917.1] is accompanied by a small wooden bird with the same number which was probably once attached to it with fibre. It measures L:11c m x W:7 cm. The Northcote Thomas on the bird reads: ‘Mask, part of, (ogbodu), wood small bird’. Another label on the bird as well as on the mask states that there is a comb with the same IDNO. It also appears that record 1 Z 11918A (which cannot be found in its box) may have been renumbered as Z 11917 according to the label attached to Z 11918B. Similar to Z 12297.
[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 29/1/2013
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Display)
Record updated as part of the Museum Affordances project 2018-2020

Event Date 23/7/2013
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Small wooden bird, originally attached to Z 11917.1. The bird has a broad, flat tail, wings carved on the side and a head with beak broken off. There are two holes drilled into the bottom of the bird, one with a broken piece of wooden doweling inside. There is a hole in one of the wings which may be deliberate. Several smaller holes in the body and head appear to be from insect damage. Some white adhesions on the body, the edges of the drilled holes are charred and the back of the bird appears discoloured.
Event Date 2/11/2018
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Small wooden bird, originally attached to Z 11917.1, with a broad, flat tail and wings carved on the side. At the base of the bird are two circular holes, one with an intact fragment of wooden doweling inside. There is a hole in one of the wings which may be deliberate. Part of the head has been damaged; the beak area is missing.
Event Date 28/9/2021
Author: Jane Pettitt