IDNO

P.171791.GIJ

Description

An Mbari house, with a corrugated iron pitched roof. On the ridge at each gable end are sculptures of birds. The pillars of the house are painted with a variety of geometric patterns. The side galleries contain clay sculptures of people and animals. The house as a railed fence around it. [Description from record P.170794.GIJ, PB 14/11/2024]

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Southeast Nigeria; Owerri North; Owerri 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

Primary Documentation

Other Information

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

Publication: Image published in Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria, (Cambridge: CUP), fig 28. p 103, and captioned "Mbari house. Owerri town. Oratta Ibo."

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).