r/whatisit • u/Flexiko1 • 12h ago
Solved! Nigerian art piece
This was bought by my Norwegian grandfather in 1978. It was made in Nigeria but bought by my grandfather in Ghana. The piece was bought for 800 nok or ~80$ at the time for purchase.
The seller said it was a piece connected to a wedding and took a year to make. This was then sold on the “black market” to finance the war in Nigeria at the time.
86 cm wide
190 cm tall
Material: ebony
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u/lullaby-bug 9h ago
The Fowler Museum at UCLA have an identical one on display. You can match up the figures against yours. I’ll let you read their description of the panel and what’s being depicted. UCLA’s one was created in the early 20thC. It was common for artists during that time to replicate designs to be sold to collectors in Europe.
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u/lullaby-bug 9h ago
Correcting myself to say it’s not an exact copy, but has replicated elements. I am an anthropologists specialising in commercial art trade in the late colonial era. Feel free to DM if you want more learning resources!
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u/Flexiko1 6h ago
Thank you so much! That was a very interesting read. I do wonder though, is the story telling of this door connected to some sort of king and like the one you linked here, or is this a more free standing one? The description also mentions esu the trickster, is he present here as well and how is he identified?
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u/lullaby-bug 5h ago
Glad I could help!
The second panel down on your door depicts a king/‘Oba’ (can be recognised by his headdress) being attended to by his wives. Esu is the little guy behind him ready to pull off his headdress. It looks like he may also be in disguise under the person being carried on the 4th panel, and perhaps causing trouble in the bottom left corner. You can also see men on panel 3 wearing fez hats, holding guns and arresting a woman. These men are members of the West African Frontier Force, a military commanded by the British. It does appear that a story is playing out. Perhaps that’s the wedding the seller referred to.
The interpretation of the art itself isn’t my specialty, and you can contact the Fowler who may be able to provide a full story of what’s being depicted.
To add some more context: carved doors have been a part of everyday pre-colonial homes in the area. When European colonist began take an interest in the local art, many people started making traditional art for this market. It helped people make a dignified living in the often difficult circumstances of colonialism.
This is why designs began being replicated across numerous makers, families of makers, and eventually small scale manufacturers. That doesn’t at all down play the effort of crafters that goes into these. Because of this, your door was likely never actually a functional door, and was made to be sold to collectors like your grandad. That doesn’t mean you should think of it any less though. It’s an object that captures a specific time and place where people found new ways to participate in and share their traditions
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u/Flexiko1 4h ago
Solved!
Thank you so so much, this made my day. This has long been a mystery to us and now we got some closure.
We will absolutely contact Fowler to get even more information since this was very interesting. Thank you so much once again!
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u/MusicalPaladin 12h ago
"Connected to a wedding" leads me to believe this is a hand-made art pice, depicting the coming together of loved ones and a community, showing people offering food, and supporting the love of other couples. Gorgeous piece of art, I hope you find a good place/museum for it
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u/know_your_place_28 6h ago
Story of an exiled prince, who is forced to conscript help of a random foreigner, to reclaim his throne, and repay that kindness hundredfold.
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u/Flexiko1 5h ago
Oh wow how is that deciphered? Since another commenter said it was a story telling about a family. Since the verdict of what the symbolism is, is divided some sort of source or explanation how the conclusion was reached would be helpful
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u/No-Status-8221 11h ago
its a door panel , seen those alot in west aftrican homes .
yoruba story telling about the family
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u/halfstep44 9h ago
Is it telling a story the way the Bayeaux tapestry tells a story?
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u/No-Status-8221 7h ago
from what was told to me (not 100%) each line is like a family registry , the one riding the "horse " is the high arc , grandma sitting ,mom dad ext.
the the next line would be the next family , hairstyle represent deferent members of the family while objects there holding usually relates to there job .
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u/Flexiko1 5h ago
Oh wow, cool! Is there any way to decipher what the professions are and who is what?
Are the panels always made as family heirlooms or are there more “general” ones? Is there 5 generations we are seeing here or is this several families?
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u/quan-adama 6h ago
Similar to this artist here. Probably Yoruba.
https://youtu.be/qw107t4Y2cA?si=LEh7VMizmPe7HR4w
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u/quan-adama 6h ago
It’s not the most refined as some of the others, I wonder it’s a matter of tools of if this is the work of someone early in their career.
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