Explore the hairpins in the Northcote W. Thomas collection, using the drop down menu below to browse objects from each town or region.
Click on each image to explore it further, including for different views of each object.
Ugba - brass hairpin
Object number: Z 11897
Description: Ugba. Brass hairpin designed in a tree shape. Four spirals are randomly arranged at the head of the pin. The spirals taper down into a thin body, shaped like a kriss.
Cultural sub-group: Aviele
Town: Agbede
Measurements: 14.7 cm long, 4.2 cm wide
Uba - Iron hairpin
Object number: Z 11930
Description: Uba. Iron hairpin. Rounded head at the top and jagged edges.
Cultural sub-group: Aroko
Town: Aroko
Measurements: 23 cm long, 1.5 cm wide
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass hairpin with a shaped handle incised with patterns of circles and dots, cross hatchings and curved lines.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 29.5 cm long, 1.7 cm wide
Object number: Z 12307
Okoti - Iron hairpin
Description: Okoti. Iron hairpin.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 18 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, 0.3 cm high
Object number: Z 12315
Brass hairpins
Description: Three brass hairpins. The heads of one and two consist of five segments. The head of the third consists of three segments.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 1: 27.5 cm long, 2 cm wide; 2: 24.5 cm long, 1.7 cm wide; 3: 24.5 cm long, 2 cm wide
Object number: Z 12325 x3
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass hairpin, very intricately designed. The design of the top segment is divided into three sections.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 19 cm long, 2 cm wide
Object number: Z 12368
Iron hairpin
Description: Iron hairpin. Two beaten spirals form the head of the pin. The body of the pin is twisted.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 22 cm long, 3.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 12372
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass hairpin with jagged edges around the top section.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 23 cm long, 1.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 12404
Brass hairpin
Description: Seven branched star brass hairpin, with the pin making up the eight branch of the star.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 10 cm long, 5 cm wide
Object number: Z 12452
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass hairpin, flat. Decorated with crosshatchings and lines.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 24 cm long, 2 cm wide
Object number: Z 12458
Okotine / Okotivie - Brass hairpin
Description: Hairpin, long piece of plain brass inset with coral, pin at right angles to centre.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 8 cm long, 15.7 cm wide, 0.7 cm high
Object number: Z 12462
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass hairpin with jagged edge around the top section.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 28.5 cm long, 2 cm wide
Object number: Z 12471
Iron hairpin
Description: Twisted iron hairpin with a curved prong and decorated top with two spirals.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 22 cm long, 3 cm wide
Object number: Z 12505
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass hairpin made in a wide H shape with the actual pin emanating from the central bar.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 8.5 cm long, 8 cm wide
Object number: Z 12510
Iron hairpin
Description: Iron hairpin with a triangular head that tapers down into a point.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 19.5 cm long, 3 cm wide
Object number: Z 12563
Brass hair ornament or pin
Description: Brass hairpin. Six branches fan out from a flat base to form the head of the pin. The pin is heavily decorated with intricate designs using lines, dots circles and triangles.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 14 cm long, 6 cm wide
Object number: Z 12596
Ugme - Iron hairpins
Description: Three iron hairpins. Two consist of flat piece of metal beaten into a faint triangular shape at the head, which tapers down into a long point. The third is an iron hairpin with a triangular head. At the tip of the triangle the metal is twisted.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 1: 21 cm long, 1.5 cm wide; 2: 18 cm long, 1 cm wide; 3: 17 cm long, 2.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 12647 x3
Iron hairpin
Description: Iron hairpin with twisted metal bands on the top of the head, which extend into two spiral shapes.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 24.5 cm long, 3 cm wide
Object number: Z 12668
Okoti - T-shaped hairpin
Description: Okoti. T-shaped hairpin. Brass with an undecorated shaft. The T bar is decorated with circular impressions.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 8 cm long, 8 cm wide
Object number: Z 12680
Ugmenomo - two brass hairpins
Description: Ugmenomo. Two brass hairpins. One with triangular and diamond shaped negative spaces in the centre and sides of the head. Two is a brass hairpin with aa rounded head. Decorated with crosshatchings, dots and spiral lines.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements:
1: 26 cm long, 2 cm wide; 2: 25 cm long, 1.75 cm wide
Object number: Z 12684 x2
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass hair pin with serrated edges round the top, and incised pattern on one side.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: A17.7 cm long, 1.8 cm wide, 0.2 cm high
Object number: Z 25486
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass flat hairpin decorated on one side with dots, linear designs, circles and crosshatchings.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 20 cm long, 1.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 25487
Iron hairpin
Description: Iron hair pin, with thin flat top half.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 17 cm long, 2.3 cm wide, 0.3 cm high
Object number: Z 25468
Iron hairpin
Description: Iron hairpin with a rounded head that tapers into a narrow pin. As it tapers down the metal is twisted twice.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 27 cm long, 0.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 25469
Two brass hairpins
Description: Two brass hairpins. A has two vertical crosshatched lines running down the head. Jagged edges, bigger than those of B. B has tiny jagged edges. It is simply decorated with spirals on both edges and crosshatchings in the centre.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: A: 23.5 cm long, 1.7 cm wide; B: 22 cm long, 1.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 25484 A-B
Two brass hairpins
Description: Two brass hairpins. A is a profusely decorated on the head with crosshatchings between which plain triangular shapes are visible. It tapers into a thin point, broken at the end.
B is profusely decorated on the head segment with semi circular shapes filled in with crosshatchings.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: A: 22 cm long, 2 cm wide; B: 21 cm long, 1.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 25488 A-B
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass hairpin with the designs beaten on the rounded top section comprising of triangles and diamond shapes. The top part of the pin displays serrated edges.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 23.2 cm long, 2 cm wide
Object number: Z 25489
Two brass hairpins
Description: Two brass hairpins, flat with jagged edges. The top segments are decorated with spirals, wave-like lines and vertical lines. A has a few circular designs at the point where the pin tapers down, whereas B has diagonal lines running from the middle of the top section to the edges.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: A: 25.5 cm long, 2 cm wide; B: 25 cm long, 2 cm wide
Object number: Z 25490 A-B
Two brass hairpins
Description: Two brass hairpins with linear triangular designs beaten onto them. The pins taper down into a narrow point. Rounded heads. B has a diamond shape in the middle segment.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: A: 21.5 cm long, 1.5 cm wide; B: 25.5 cm long, 1.9 cm wide
Object number: Z 25491 A-B
Okoleka - Metal ear pin/hairpin
Description: Okoleka. Metal ear pin for removing wax, also used as hairpin.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 17.7 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, 0.3 cm high
Object number: Z 12421
Okoti - Iron hair pin
Description: Okoti. Iron hair pin.
Cultural sub-group: Esan
Town: Irrua
Measurements: 16.8 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, 0.4 cm high
Object number: Z 12782/Record 1
Ugbekulu - brass hairpin
Description: Ugbekulu. Brass hairpin with incised pattern on one side and two spirals on the top.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 30.5 cm long, 3.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 12847
Brass hairpin
Description: Long brass hairpin of sheet metal. Beaten with dotted designs and crosshatchings. Reminiscent of the work of the Bide from the Niger State of North Nigeria who make similar objects.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 38.5 cm long, 0.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 12871
Mgeme/Ugme - Iron hairpin
Description: Mgme. Iron hairpin with a twisted piece near the top.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 14.3 cm long, 0.5 cm wide, 0.3 cm high
Object number: Z 12876
Two brass hairpins
Description: Two brass hairpins. One is a curved hairpin with designs beaten onto the body such as dots, circles and lines. Two spirals at the head, each with a hole in the middle. Two is similar in design but no holes are present in the spirals.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements:
1: 29.7 cm long, 3.5 cm wide; 2: 24 cm long, 3 cm wide
Object number: Z 12894 x2
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass hairpin with the metal split into two strands near the top. Each strands forms a spiral and is beaten flat.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 8 cm long, 2.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 12921
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass hair pin.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 8.5 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, 0.3 cm high
Object number: Z 12990
Two brass hairpins
Description: Two brass hairpins. Flat design. One has two ram’s horns on the top. Two has three spirals, aligned vertically, are visible on either side of the head of the pin. The head of the hairpin is rounded.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 1: 22 cm long, 3 cm wide; 2: 20 cm long, 1.7 cm wide
Object number: Z 13097 x 2
Iron hairpin
Description: Iron hairpin with a twisted iron handle and two spirals on the top.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 15 cm long, 2 cm wide
Object number: Z 25463
Two brass hairpins
Description: Two brass hairpins. They are of an identical design with small rounded heads followed by eight centimetres of twisted metal.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 1: 30 cm long , 0.25 cm wide; 2: 28 cm long, 0.25 cm wide
Object number: Z 12901 x2
Brass hairpin
Description: Brass hairpin. The head consists of ten spirals on either side of the head, which are arranged vertically along the edge.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 33.5 cm long, 2 cm wide
Object number: Z 25485
Brass hairpin
Description: Small brass hairpin terminating in two spirals.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 7 cm long, 3.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 25492
Brass hairpin
Description: T-shaped brass hairpin topped with a four-legged animal figure.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 8 cm long, 10 cm wide
Object number: Z 13138
Object number: Z 13395 x4
Description: Three brass hairpins and one brass hair ornament. One has a decorative top, which splits into two branches. Each branch further splits into two small branches, each section being topped off by two spirals. Two is similar to the above but smaller, and slightly different curvature of the metal. Three is similar to the above but with a slightly different curvature. Four is a small pendant with a hook, shaped in the form of a pot.
Cultural sub-group: Ghotuo
Town: Otua/Otwa/Otuo
Measurements: 1: 13 cm long, 4.5 cm wide; 2: 10.5 cm long, 4.5 cm wide; 3: 12 cm long, 4 cm wide; 4: 2.5 cm long, 1 cm wide, 0.5 cm hook
Object number: Z 11701 x2
Description: Ugben. Two twisted iron hairpins with flat triangular heads.
Cultural sub-group: Afuze
Town: Ovbiomu
Measurements: 1: 24 cm long, 3.5 cm wide; 2: 20.5 cm long, 3.2 cm wide
Object number: Z 13463
Description: Hairpin in the shape of a Christian cross. Brass.
Cultural sub-group: Ora
Town: Sabongida/Sabongidda Ora
Measurements: 16 cm long, 9 cm wide
Object number: Z 13491
Description: Ugueba. Ornamental hairpin of cast brass and coral. Incised decoration identical on both sides of pin.
Cultural sub-group: Ora
Town: Sabongida/Sabongidda Ora
Measurements: 16 cm long, 9 cm wide
Object number: Z 13498
Description: Brass hairpin in the shape of a Christian cross.
Cultural sub-group: Ora
Town: Sabongida/Sabongidda Ora
Measurements: 11.5 cm long, 5.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 13444
Description: Iguopa. Hair ornament consisting of an iron pin to which are fastened cowries and a feather stuck at one end.
Cultural sub-group: Ora
Town: Sabongida/Sabongidda Ora
Measurements: 38 cm long, 10 cm wide, 1 cm high
Object number: Z 13566
Description: Iron comb-shaped hairpin.
Cultural sub-group: Esan
Town: Uromi
Measurements: 16 cm long, 1.5 cm wide
Object number: Z 13567
Description: Iron hairpin.
Cultural sub-group: Esan
Town: Uromi
Measurements: 12.8 cm long, 2 cm wide, 0.2 cm high
Object number: Z 13568
Description: Iron hair pin.
Cultural sub-group: Esan
Town: Uromi
Measurements: 15.5 cm long, 2 cm wide, 0.3 cm high
Object number: Z 25482
Description: Brass hair pin with a serrated edge top.
Cultural sub-group: missing
Town: missing
Measurements: 13.3 cm long, 1.7 cm wide, 0.3 cm high
Object number: Z 25483
Description: Okoti. Iron hair pin.
Cultural sub-group: missing
Town: missing
Measurements: 20.7 cm long, 0.3 cm wide, 0.3 cm high
Object number: Z 25493
Description: Brass hairpin with cylindrical-shaped top with incised lines going round it. Possibly plugged with wood.
Cultural sub-group: mssing
Town: mssing
Measurements: 9.2 cm long, 0.7 cm wide, 0.7 cm high
