Explore the charms, shrine and medicine objects 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.
Figure
Object number: Z 11926
Description: Orioliminga. Carved wooden female figure with glass bead necklace used by small boys at dance Aroko, Ifon.
Cultural sub-group: Aroko
Town: Aroko
Measurements: 19 cm long, 9 cm wide
Figure
Object number: Z 11927
Description: Orioliminga. Carved wooden male figure with plant fibre wrapped around the legs.
Cultural sub-group: Aroko
Town: Aroko
Measurements: 15 cm long, 7 cm wide
Charm
Object number: Z 12396
Description: Iron charm or medicine with hollow top like an incipient rattle.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 33 cm long, 5 cm wide, 1 cm high
Container
Object number: Z 12579
Description: Ulemi. Medicine in the form of a basketwork horn with feathers inside open end. The other end covered with string and ornamented with two cowrie shells. With leather strap.
Cultural sub-group: Yekhee
Town: Ijeba/Kukuruku/Uzebba
Measurements: 26 cm long, 16.5 cm wide, 5.5 cm high
Shield
Object number: Z 13157
Description: Asa. Miniature bark shield with feathers for offering.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 23 cm long, 10 cm wide, 1.5 cm high
Charm
Object number: Z 12872
Description: Miniature iron leg-iron used as a charm for baby's neck.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 10 cm long, 2.5 cm wide, 1.5 cm high
Figure
Object number: Z 12902
Description: Ivory human figure possibly a shrine or altar figure, which has turned a dark brown colour.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 3.5 cm long, 3.5 cm wide, 7 cm high
Figure
Object number: Z 13077 x2
Description: Z 13077 (1 of 2): Wooden object, possibly for a shrine, consisting of a male and female figure attached to a tree with their backs. The tree is topped by a large bird signifying female power and witchcraft. Z 13077 (2 of 2). Wooden figure, possibly for a shrine, of a kneeling woman with a pot on her head.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 1: 20 cm long, 10 cm wide; 2: 22 cm long, 5 cm wide
Medicine bottle
Object number: Z 13090
Description: Gourd medicine bottle with cord cover and wooden stopper.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 20 cm long, 10 cm wide, 7 cm high
Figure
Object number: Z 13016
Description: Female wooden figure for shrine of father or mother.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 25 cm long, 8 cm wide
Figure
Object number: Z 13017
Description: Wooden figure, probably male, for shrine of father. Unusually large head.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 19 cm long, 6 cm wide
Figure
Object number: Z 12903 x2
Description: Two wooden figures, male and female, for shrine. Covered with what appears to be mud. The metal wire around the neck of the female figure may be original.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 1: 27 cm long, 5 cm wide; 2: 25 cm long, 6.5 cm wide
Figure
Object number: Z 12931
Description: Ikute. Wooden figure for shrine of father. Three heads on a stand topped with a dish. Covered with black pigment with white pigment spots, which could refer to Sopona, the Yoruba god of chicken pox.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 13 cm long, 12 cm diameter at widest point, 5 cm diameter at the top
Figure
Object number: Z 13012
Description: Olose. Wooden female figure for shrine of father.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 10 cm long, 2.5 cm wide
Figure
Object number: Z 13083
Description: Olose. Wood figure, probably female, for shrine.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 21 cm long, 6.5 cm wide
Figure
Object number: Z 13078
Description: Oxargili. Wooden female figure for shrine with an unusual posture.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 23 cm long, 3.5 cm wide
Figure
Object number: Z 13122
Description: Wooden female figure for divination.
Cultural sub-group: Okpe
Town: Okpe
Measurements: 15 cm long, 3 cm wide
Charm
Object number: Z 13269
Description: Osu. Charm; iron rod covered with a rag with four bells at the top.
Cultural sub-group: Ghotuo
Town: Otua/Otwa/Otuo
Measurements: 5 cm long, 7 cm wide, 27 cm high
Girdle
Object number: Z 13352/Record 2
Description: Leather waist medicine girdle.
Cultural sub-group: Ghotuo
Town: Otua/Otwa/Otuo
Measurements: 29.5 cm long, 17 cm wide, 1 cm high; 18 cm long, 14 cm wide, 1 cm high
Shrine object
Object number: Z 13256
Description: Ego. String of cowrie shells threaded on piece of fibre, for shrine of father.
Cultural sub-group: Ghotuo
Town: Otua/Otwa/Otuo
Measurements: 17 cm long, 7 cm wide, 2.5 cm high
Medicine bowl
Object number: Z 13413
Description: Gourd medicine bowl hung from roof to bring money and children. Covered with string and ornamented with cowrie shells. Three cloth bundles and one string wrapped bundleare attached. Covered in mud.
Cultural sub-group: Ghotuo
Town: Otua/Otwa/Otuo
Measurements: 36 cm long, 17 cm wide, 14.5 cm high
Medicine container
Object number: Z 13432
Description: Uhumuda. A gourd covered with cloth with cowries at each end and closed with a stopper of corn husk. Belly medicine.
Cultural sub-group: Ghotuo
Town: Otua/Otwa/Otuo
Measurements: 25 cm long, 4.5 cm wide, 4.5 cm high
Medicine container
Object number: Z 13270
Description: Ukumeme. Snake medicine. Horn covered with cowrie shells and fibre.
Cultural sub-group: Ghotuo
Town: Otua/Otwa/Otuo
Measurements: 31.5 cm long, 6 cm wide, 5 cm high
Medicine belt
Object number: Z 11719
Description: Ekpatu. Medicine belt or charm of leather with four square pendants.
Cultural sub-group: Afuze
Town: Ovbiomu
Measurements: 26 cm long, 13 cm wide, 2.5 cm high
Medicine flasks
Object number: Z 11710 x2 2=the dark one
Description: Ogbiaga. Gourd medicine flasks wrapped in cloth with stopper and handle ornamented with cowrie shells. Covered in mud.
Cultural sub-group: Afuze
Town: Ovbiomu
Measurements: 1: 54 cm long, 9 cm wide, 8 cm high; 2: 37 cm long, 13 cm wide, 8 cm high
Medicine girdles
Object number: Z 11708 x 3
Description: Three medicine girdles: one of brown cloth with two cowrie shells attached to it, one of red cloth and one of leather.
Cultural sub-group: Afuze
Town: Ovbiomu
Measurements: 1: 34 cm long, 9.5 cm wide, 2 cm high; 2: 40 cm long, 15 cm wide, 2.3 cm high; 3: 40 cm long, 11 cm wide, 4.5 cm high
Girdle
Object number: Z 13438
Description: Ogua. Cloth girdle with cowrie shells said to be a charm to send enemies to sleep on the road.
Cultural sub-group: Ora
Town: Sabongida/Sabongidda Ora
Measurements: 30 cm long, 10 cm wide, 1.5 cm high
Charm
Object number: Z 13526
Description: Elumi kodion. Protective charm to guard market or farm property. Wooden forked stick with a fibre band of cowrie shells.
Cultural sub-group: Ora
Town: Sabongida/Sabongidda Ora
Measurements: 20 cm long, 10 cm wide, 2 cm high
Medicine
Object number: Z 13484
Description: Medicine against sickness. A number of leather covered objects hung on a cord of plaited leather.
Cultural sub-group: Ora
Town: Sabongida/Sabongidda Ora
Measurements: 26 cm long, 18 cm wide, 7 cm high
Medicine
Object number: Z 13485
Description: Ukpobeli. Medicine to save man from being lost. Cloth with three rows of cowrie shells.
Cultural sub-group: Ora
Town: Sabongida/Sabongidda Ora
Measurements: 34 cm long, 15.5 cm wide, 3.3 cm high
Medicine
Object number: Z 13510
Description: Igoni. Medicine. Miniature leg iron, with cloth wrapped around the central bar.
Cultural sub-group: Ora
Town: Sabongida/Sabongidda Ora
Measurements: 14 cm long, 5.5 cm wide, 1 cm high
Medicine
Object number: Z 13482
Description: Abomo tixumu. War medicine to make bullet miss. Triangular piece of cloth with cowrie shells
and leather covered strap.
Cultural sub-group: Ora
Town: Sabongida/Sabongidda Ora
Measurements: 41 cm long, 8 cm wide, 3.5 cm high
Spear
Object number: Z 25689
Description: Miniature iron spear.
Cultural sub-group: missing
Town: missing
Measurements: 16 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, 0.5 cm high
