IDNO

P.170928.GIJ

Description

A clay sculpture of a standing four-legged animal in an Mbari house. The animal's neck is capped by two rings enclosing balls or cartridges. It is wearing a 'uniform'. The tail is formed from a series of rings. The sculpture appears to be a hybrid of an animal and a machine gun. In the background a wall with designs of a woman with fan-like hair and raised arms (Mammywater?), a tree and geometric symbols. [Description from record P.762008.GIJ, 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/.

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]