IDNO

N.13036.GIJ

Description

An Okwa nzu or chalk bowl carved of wood consisting of a rounded bowl with a defined rim and handle depicting the head of a female figure with a piece of twine attached to it. The face of the figure shows arched brows, almond shaped eyes, defined lips, ears and an elaborate, arched coiffure, adorning the neck is a coiled, ring-like necklace. The bowl is propped up against a wooden fence inside a shrine adorned with raffia or palm fronds in the background.

Physical Condition: Slight yellowing of negative.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Eastern Nigeria; Cross River; Northern Bende division

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Abiriba

Named Person

Photographer

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Collector / Expedition

Date

1932 - 1939

Collection Name

Jones Collection

Source

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

This negative was kept in a film storage album labelled “Misc” by G. I. Jones, and numbered “C10/” by the cataloguer.

Context: “The Cross River Ibo Communities of Northern Bende division carved small bowls with a single handle called okwa nzu (chalk bowl). These were formerly used by influential men to offer chalk (nzu) to visiting strangers who wished to place themselves under their protection while in the village. The visitor took the chalk and drew two lines across the back of his hand or wrist as a sign that he was a protected person and then replaced the chalk in the bowl” (Jones, G.I., 1984, p. 121)

Cole and Aniakor describe the differences in the various types of chalk dishes. They state, that “Chalk dishes, okwa nzu, are generally smaller than most kola servers; many are plates embellished with geometric carvings, sometimes with four internal divisions. More elaborate examples from the eastern region normally have a bowl and an anthropomorphised handle and thus an overall spoon-like shape. Most commonly the representation is a single female head; full figures are rarely encountered. Informants in Abiriba and Ohafia, where fine chalk dishes are concentrated, suggested somewhat vague ancestral associations” (Cole and Aniakor, 1984, p.63)

Bibliographical Reference: Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press)Cole, H. & C. Aniakor, 1984. Igbo Arts: Community and Cosmos (Museum of Cultural History, University of California)

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 16/10/2007]