IDNO

P.74015.GIJ

Description

Object documentation photograph of a carved wooden stool made for a titled man. The stool has a circular seat with patterns incised on its underside, and a pedestal base which splays into four feet, two of which have been broken.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; South Eastern Nigeria; near Awka; Amobia village

Cultural Affliation

Nri-Awka Igbo; Northern Igbo; Igbo

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.74011.GIJ to P.74015.GIJ came from the envelope now numbered C343/.

Publication: See Jones, 1989, p.29 which depicts a variety of Ibo Stools. The same stool in the photograph is labelled “B” with the caption Awka pedestal stool carved in Awka town.

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. Other Igbo cultural items
3. "Awka" stool Amobia Village, Nri-Awka (14th image).

Context: The Akwa stool consisted of the usual saucer like seat, which was supported on a narrow pedestal splayed out at the base into four feet. Another Akwa variant resembled in profile is an Ashanti stool, but the top and bottom were oval and pointed and not rectangular like the Ashanti one. These and other stools were part of the regalia of the members of the Ozo title society and their carving was developed into a fine art unmatched anywhere in the region (Jones, 1984, p.117).

Bibliographical Reference: Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press)
Jones, G.I. 1989 Ibo Art (Shire).

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 12/2/2008]