IDNO

P.71836.GIJ

Description

A carved wooden canoe with figures. The sculpture consists of a long cylindrical base and six figures. The figures from left to right: the first figure appears to be carrying a pot on her head, the second figure is holding a paddle, the next two figures are seated and are wearing hats; the fourth is holding a bottle in one hand and a glass in the other, the fifth figure is holding a stick in one hand and musical instrument in the other. The figures are stylised with elongated necks, rounded shoulders and elongated torsos. Next to the canoe and figures, a man is sitting with his hands clasped and wearing a chequered wrapper around his waist and a jacket. In the background is cracked mud wall and a man in the far right corner.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; South Eastern Nigeria; Cross River

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Abiriba

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.71832.GIJ to P.71970.GIJ were kept in box 7, now numbered C298/.
P.71834.GIJ to P.71836.GIJ were found wrapped in paper, now numbered C298/2/.

Context: Jones describes the sculpture from Abiriba. He writes, “ Abiriba was, like Awka, a town of traders and craftsmen, with travelling doctors, diviners, blacksmiths and carvers of masks and figures in either a local Abiriba style or in what they insisted was Ibibio. Others made ornamental bowls and dishes, drums and other objects. More recently they have introduced a system of resist-dyeing of imported baft cloth (called Ukara). (Jones, 1988, pp.61-62)

Bibliographical Reference: Jones, G.I. 1988. Ibo Art (Shire)
Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press)

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 18/12/2007]