IDNO

P.170760.GIJ

Description

An internal doorway in an Mbari house. The side walls and arch above are painted in geometric patterns with sculptures of women in the centre and corners of the arch, flanked by circular sun and moon motifs. In the windows above the balcony are clay heads of the District Officer and Assistant District Officer. [PB 12/03/2024]

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Southeast Nigeria; Owerri North; Imo; Ulakwo town

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Oratta Ibo

Named Person

Photographer

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

Collector / Expedition

Date

1936

Collection Name

Jones Collection

Source

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.170715.GIJ - P.170801.GIJ were located in an Ilford paper box, now numbered C762/.

P.170755.GIJ - P.170771.GIJ were located in a paper folder, now numbered C762/4, and are a sequence of images of the same Mbari house.

Publication: Image published in Jones, G.I., 1937. Mbari Houses. pp.77-79 in The Nigerian Field Vol VI No 2., Plate D, and captioned "Umowa Mbari house. One side of the inner house with three girls sitting on the balcony and D.C. Duncan (with pencil) and another A.D.C. at the windows. A 'rainbow snake', a full and a quarter moon, an umbrella and a cotton print and various animals and other objects are painted on the walls." [PB 05/03/2024]

Bibliographical Reference: G.I. Jones describes Mbari sculptures on pp. 82-92 and Mbari house architecture on p. 104 in Jones G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria. (Cambridge: CUP). [PB 05/03/2024]