IDNO

P.171007.GIJ

Description

A clay sculpture in an Mbari house of Okpanku, the hairy ape, a black-furred homunculus with an erect spine-studded phallus and carrying stones or hard fruits to throw at people. The figure is painted in dark paint, and has eyes and jagged mouth highlighted in white paint. Braided hair is attached to his head. He has his right arm raised, about to throw a ball held in his right hand. Other balls adorn his arms and body, and he has another ball in his left hand with his left arm outstretched. The figure has an oversized phallus with rows of spikes along its shaft. [PB 23/05/2024]

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Southeast Nigeria; Owerri North; Imo; 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.171004.GIJ - P.171063.GIJ were located in a 'Duplex' paper folder now numbered C766/4/.

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 20. 'Okpanku : Mbari house. Umowa village. Oratta Ibo p 87. Cambridge: CUP. 1984