1948.2.134

Collection type

Object

Description

Deep everted wooden bowl with tall, splaying square-sectioned, fenestrated foot, stained black on the exterior [RTS 12/4/2005].

Long description

Slightly oval bowl carved from a single block of wood and consisting of an everted, flat-topped rim with thin outer edge, on a deep body with concave sides that flare down and in to a flattened underside. This is set on top of a solid pedestal foot with four flat sides, splaying out to a flat base, cut slightly concave on 2 sides. It has been shaved down each of the sloping side edges to produce bevelled corners, as well as around the lower edge. 2 oval windows have been cut into opposite sides, connecting with each other at the centre of the foot. These have 3 concave scallops at their base. The bowl interior, fenestrations and base underside have all been left the natural yellow colour of the wood (Pantone 7508C), while the top of the rim and exterior surfaces have been stained a dark brownish black (Pantone black 7C). The wood itself is very soft and lightweight. The bowl is complete, but has a crack along one side and a large stain on the interior rim; the outer surface is scratched and the colour has come off in some areas, while there is minor damage or wear also to the edges of the foot. It is 280 mm high, with an external rim diameter of 362 by 347 mm and a mouth diameter of 308 by 287 mm; the foot is 125 mm tall, and measures 155 by 147 mm across its base, while the windows have a width of 38 mm [RTS 13/4/2005].

Geographical reference

South Sudan

Africa > Eastern Africa > South Sudan

Cultural groups

Zande

Person

Field collector Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

PRM source Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1930

Date collected

1927 - 1930

Acquisition information

Found unentered: 1948

Materials and processes

Material Wood Plant, Material Pigment, Process Carved, Process Stained

Dimensions

Height 125 mm foot, Width: max 155 mm base, Height 280 mm, Diameter: max 362 mm, Diameter: max 308 mm mouth, Weight 1000 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 1948.2.134

Research and responses

There is some relevant information listed in the RDF for 1970.38.1-12, relating to a series of Zande wooden food bowls and stools that were collected by Evans-Pritchard from near Yambio in the 1920's, in which he states that the objects were carved by specialists from several species of green timber, probably during the dry season, and were in use by the people from whom they were acquired. The black staining and polishing was done by the owners themselves.

For similar Zande bowls, see 1948.2.130 (fenestrated foot), 1948.2.132 (solid foot), and 1948.2.135 (with cylindrical rather than pyramidal foot, also fenestrated) [RTS 12/4/2005].

Search terms: Vessel, Bowl