Catalogue card: Stave (Ariorho nii omo) with elaborate puzzle-carving culminating in figure of mother and baby
Labelled 'Thomas Colln, S. Nigeria 1910-13, 2220.306'
Carved wooden staff with central rattle section and a standing female figure with baby on back above. The figure has an elaborate crown-like hairstyle or headdress, scarification marks, prominent breasts and a baby tucked into its garment at the back. The rattle section is incised with geometric patterns and has three slits through which the rattle can be seen. There is a hole ?drilled into the bottom of the figure and some signs of insect damage. There is also a large crack running vertically down the side of the staff from the head to the rattle section.
Carved wooden staff with central rattle section and a standing female figure with baby on back above. The figure has an elaborate crown-like hairstyle or headdress, scarification marks, prominent breasts and a baby tucked into its garment at the back. The rattle section is incised with geometric patterns and has three slits through which the rattle can be seen.
During the collections-based phase of the Museum Affordances Project 2018, photographs of some of these rattle staffs were shared on the project Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/reentanglements/).
In a comment on 01/10/2018, Adenike Cosgrove wrote: ' This looks to be an Edo ukhurhe rattle staff. You can read more about them here: https://www.imodara.com/.../nigeria-edo-ukhurhe-rattle.../'
Figure was found with copper wire around the neck forming a loop, possibly for display purposes. The copper wire has now been removed and is stored in a bag with the object.
Display/1
Display/2
Display/3
Field_collection/0
Field_collection/1
Found_together - assemblage
Freezing
Online Only
Other/0
These staffs (Z 20317 - Z 20342) appear to have been carved by the same hand, or in the same workshop and were collected by N.W. Thomas as a group. They are listed in Thomas' 1st catalogue (Doc.413) as entries 308-335, which are situated at the very back of the catalogue.
Other/1
A selection of rattle staff collected by Northcote Thomas are shown together in Image 390447.