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Vessel

Mambila

Artwork Details

Vessel
early 20th century
Mambila
terracotta
12 5/8 in x 9 1/16 in (32 cm x 23 cm)
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis
2000/2.110

Description

Subject Matter:

This vessel may have been created by the Mambila peoples of Nigeria and Cameroon and used for storing and pouring palm wine. The three-branched spout suggests that it may be Mambila, rather than from the Cameroon Grassfields region which also produces pottery, including palm wine vessels. 

References Cited: 
Forni, Silvia. 2007. "Containers of Life: Pottery and Social Relations in the Grassfields (Cameroon)."African Arts 40.1: 42-53.
Gebauer, Paul. 1979. Art of Cameroon. Portland, Or.: Portland Art Association.
Homberger, L. 2008. Cameroon: Art and Kings. Zürich: Museum Rietberg.
Northern, Tamara. 1984. The Art of Cameroon. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.
Page, Donna. 2007. A Cameroon World: Art and Artifacts from the Caroline and Marshall Mount Collection. New York: QCC Art Gallery Press.

Physical Description:

Large round vessel with three columnar spouts at the top that share a raised lip. The three spouts are decorated with small incised circles. 

Usage Rights:

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