Polo Player Artist: Thomas Ona Odulate (Nigerian, 1900–1952)

early to mid-20th century

African Art

By appointment, Wurtele Study Center

African artists often commented on European behaviors that they found peculiar or against their norms and values, which may be the case with this polo player. The artist Thomas Ona Odulate became known for his miniature thorn carvings and created composite sculptures documenting colonial life that always have a humorous twist.

Medium

Wood, metal, fiber and paint

Dimensions

13 1/4 × 4 1/2 × 9 in. (33.66 × 11.43 × 22.86 cm)

Credit Line

Charles B. Benenson, B.A. 1933, Collection

Accession Number

2006.51.522

Geography

Guinea Coast, Nigeria

Culture

Yorùbá

Period

20th century

Classification

Sculpture

Disclaimer

Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Provenance
Irwin and Marcia Hersey, New York; Sotheby's, New York, Tribal Art, May 20,1987, Lot 263; Charles B. Benenson Collection, Greenwich, Conn; Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Conn.
Bibliography
  • Frederick John Lamp, Amanda Maples, and Laura M. Smalligan, Accumulating Histories: African Art from the Charles B. Benenson Collection at the Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 2012), 293, ill
  • "Acquisitions, July 1, 2005–June 30, 2006," Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin (2006), 222
  • Sotheby's, New York, Tribal Art, sale cat. (May 20, 1987), Sale # 5587, lot 0263
Object copyright
Copyright Undetermined
Additional information

Subject

horses (animals) men polo

Technical metadata and APIs

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