IDNO

P.170921.GIJ

Description

The side gallery of an Mbari house. A clay sculpture of a district officer at his desk. On the wall behind a stylised painting of a man standing in side profile, holding a bullock by its horn. The man is smoking a pipe. A sword and a rectangle filled with chevrons complete the design. [PB 09/05/2024]

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Southeast Nigeria; Imo State; Oratta; Umowa

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 Mounted

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.170921.GIJ - P.171076.GIJ were located together in a brown box, now numbered C766/.

P.170921.GIJ - P.170931.GIJ were located in a 'Nigerian Field' journal cover, now numbered C766/1/.

Publication: Image published in Jones, G.I., 1937. Mbari Houses. pp.77-79 in The Nigerian Field Vol. VI, No 2. Plate C, and captioned "Umowa Mbari house, A.D.C. trying a case." [PB 09/05/2024]

Bibliographical Reference: G.I. Jones explains 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 09/05/2024]

Context: Detailed notes by G.I. Jones on this house, each figure and the house plan are in the paper folder C766/1. The numbers 1 - 33 on print reverse and mounts relate to these notes and the plan indicates the positions of the figures. [PB 09/05/2024]