OUR COLLECTION — AFRICA — NIGERIA 88. THORNWOOD VILLAGE NATIVITY
This Nativity is hand-carved in the interior of Nigeria in the tradition of handicrafts that have been produced in this area for centuries. The folk art of this region of Africa specializes in roughhewn wood crafts and textiles. Only in the last couple hundred years has Christian iconography been accepted as an appropriate subject for artisans in the interior of countries like Nigeria.
Thornwood carving is believed to have begun in Owo, Nigeria by Justus D. Akeredolu, a craft teacher at a government school in the 1930s. He wanted to find a substance that was easy to carve and suitable for small detail. He began experimenting with the wood from the thorns of the silk cotton tree. He taught the craft of carving from this wood to his students, and today it survives as a narrative craft of detail and skill. Mr. Akeredolu’s original sculptures featured everyday scenes from life in Nigeria.
This thornwood village consists of 160 miniature carved figures:
The villagers on pedestal slabs are engaged in various scenes of daily village life in Nigeria. The tallest piece is the man climbing the palm tree at 7 inches. The smallest figures are 1.5 inches.
Thornwood carving is believed to have begun in Owo, Nigeria by Justus D. Akeredolu, a craft teacher at a government school in the 1930s. He wanted to find a substance that was easy to carve and suitable for small detail. He began experimenting with the wood from the thorns of the silk cotton tree. He taught the craft of carving from this wood to his students, and today it survives as a narrative craft of detail and skill. Mr. Akeredolu’s original sculptures featured everyday scenes from life in Nigeria.
This thornwood village consists of 160 miniature carved figures:
- Holy Family - 3
- Coconut hut - 1
- Angel - 1
- More angels - 10
- Shepherds - 3
- Kings - 3
- Palm trees - 5
- Villager huts - 12
- Villagers on pedestals - 8
- Tribesmen - 21
- Musicians - 10
- More musicians - 18
- Boys - 41
- Small oxen and sheep - 24
The villagers on pedestal slabs are engaged in various scenes of daily village life in Nigeria. The tallest piece is the man climbing the palm tree at 7 inches. The smallest figures are 1.5 inches.