IDNO

P.170940.GIJ

Description

A close up of a clay sculpture in a side gallery of an Mbari house. The sculpture represents a vain woman holding a mirror and dressing her hair. She holds the mirror in her right hand, while she touches her hair with her left. Her hair is bunched into a comb on the top of her head, with curved 'horns' of hair from side of head and back of neck meeting to form half rings. Her torso and neck are decorated with uli fine parallel lines with small geometric symbols on her forearms, chin, cheeks and forehead. She has a thong with a single cylindrical bead around her neck. The mirror is painted with a white background and a geometric pattern in black. [Description from record, 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.170934.GIJ - P.171076.GIJ were located in a paper folder now numbered C766/3/.

P.170940.GIJ - P.170941.GIJ are mounted together.

Image used in Jones G.I. The Art of Eastern Nigeria

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] . Fig 24 p 90. Cambridge: CUP. Caption: 'Lady with mirror'

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]