H x W x D: 28 x 14.2 x 14.2 cm (11 x 5 9/16 x 5 9/16 in.)
Type:
Ceramics
Geography:
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congo
Date:
Early to mid-20th century
Label Text:
African potters--primarily women--handbuild a variety of vessels that they embellish with beautiful colors, designs and motifs before firing them at low temperatures. Containers made for daily use hold water or serve as cooking utensils. They also make vessels to be used in special ceremonies or that become part of an assemblage of objects placed in a shrine.
The potter has created a beautifully proportioned vessel in which the shape of the vessel's waist balances the neck and shoulder on top with the body below. The burnished surface, red body, faceted oval medallions and multiple incisions were all executed with care. The vessel probably was a highly valued personal possession.
Description:
Red colored bottle shaped burnished vessel with a narrow waist which is decorated with numerous and densely positioned incised lines. Small incisions also appear around the rim, bottom of the neck, shoulder and top of the bowl. A medallion shape appears on the shoulder.
Provenance:
Walshaert collection, Antwerp, before 1940
Exhibition History:
Ceramics at the National Museum of African Art 3rd level Pots, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., January 8, 1998 to the present
Purpose and Perfection: Pottery as a Woman's Art in Central Africa, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., November 15, 1992-June 15, 1997
Content Statement:
As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
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