IDNO

P.61300.GIJ

Description

A ceremonial food bowl or platter made of wood and an iron spoon. The bowl is circular in shape, and the outer rim is designed with indented striations and four circular marks. In the centre of the bowl is a raised container with a lid decorated with two human carved heads. To the left is a small circular platform (for cutting meat).

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; North East Ibo

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Ezza

Named Person

Photographer

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

Collector / Expedition

Date

circa 1930 - 1939

Collection Name

Jones Collection

Source

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

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.61280.GIJ to P.61354.GIJ were kept in box 1, now numbered C295/.
P.61298.GIJ to P.61302.GIJ were found wrapped in paper, now numbered C295/1/.

Publication: Same image published on John McCall’s G.I. Jones website with the following information: [Source: www.siu.edu/~anthro/mccall/jones/, AF ]
1. Index to Igbo music, shrines, architecture and other cultural artifacts
2. Ceremonial bowls (okwa)
3. Ceremonial food bowls
4. Okwa Ezza Igbo - note small iron spoon (1st image).

Context: Jones writes about the Ezza carvers and notes their fine okwa dishes with human faces on the lid in imitation of those made by the Nri/Akwa. The large ceremonial food dish was used by the host to make a token offering of food to a visitor. The central portion was raised to contain a separate hollow with a detachable lid covering it. This contained the sauce. The rest of the food, which was a small portion of meat or of boiled hide, was placed in the surrounding bowl, on which was a small raised circular platform on which to cut the meat. The lid over the sauce bowl was carved with representations of human or animal heads or bird forms.
Jones, G.I., 1984, pp. 120, 214, The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press)

For similar examples of ceremonial food and kola bowls see: Cole, H. & C. Aniakor, 1984, p. 63 , 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 10/10/2007]