IDNO

P.170971.GIJ

Description

A tableau of clay sculptures in an Mbari house, representing Mammywater and her daughter. She is sitting on a model of a folding chair with legs crossed and arms raised. She has a painted headdress edged with cowrie shells, and face edged with painted hair braids. A coiled snaked is modelled on her neck and she holds a snake in each hand. The child is sitting on a stool, wearing a conical hat. To the right of the image is a sculpture of an attendant. To the left in the shadows a person is standing holding one of the posts of the house. [Description from record P.762056.GIJ, PB 16/05/2024]

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 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.170971.GIJ - P.170972.GIJ are mounted together.

Context: G.I. Jones explains Mbari sculptures on pp 82-92 and Mbari house architecture on p 104 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] . Cambridge: CUP.

Image used in The Art of Eastern Nigeria, fig 26. 'Mammywater and daughter: note the dwarf standing in background. Mbari house, Ulakwo village. Oratta Ibo.' p 91. Cambridge: CUP. 1984