IDNO

P.171765.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.170722.GIJ, PB 14/11/2024]

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

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.171730.GIJ - P.171808.GIJ were located together in an 'University of Camridge' envelope, now numbered C841/.

Bibliographical Reference: G.I. Jones describes 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).

Bibliographical Reference: H.M. Cole describes Mbari houses and sculptures in Cole H.M., 1982. Mbari: Art and Life among the Owerri Igbo, (Bloomington: Indiana University Press).