1979.20.44

Collection type

Object

Description

Grass basket decorated with three brown bands around circumference, for carrying sorghum [RTS 2/8/2005].

Long description

Basket used for carrying sorghum, consisting of an upright slightly oval rim and deep body with upright walls that swell out convexely over the lower body to a convex base with flattened centre. This has been made using a stake and strand twining technique that consists of vertical groups of stiff yellow grass stems (Pantone 7509C), interwoven with horizontal grass stems. The top of the vertical elements have been bent over and woven into a neatly finished and reinforced rim that protrudes from the body as 2 parallel ridges. These vertical elements can be seen crossing over one another at the base to form a star with eight arms, visible on both the interior and exterior of the vessel and framed by groups of stems weaving in and out of the arms in 2 concentric circles. Some of the grass stems have been dyed a dark grayish brown colour (Pantone 7532C), creating 3 horizontal bands of decoration around the body. The interior has been partially smeared with dark brown fibrous dung to seal the gaps between the weave (Pantone 7532C). The basket is complete, and has a weight of 633.9 grams. It has a height of 240 mm and a rim diameter of 300 by 290 mm, which is also the maximum diameter of the vessel. The grass stems that make up the bodywork have a typical width of 3 mm [RTS 2/8/2005].

Geographical reference

South Sudan

Africa > Eastern Africa > South Sudan

Northern Bahr el Ghazal Dhangrial

Cultural groups

Dinka Tuich

Person

Field collector Patti Langton

PRM source Patti Langton

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1979

Date collected

17 February 1979

Acquisition information

Purchased: 1979

Materials and processes

Material Grass Stem Plant, Material Animal Dung, Process Basketry, Process Twined Woven, Process Decorated, Process Dyed, Process Stained

Dimensions

Height: max 247 mm, Diameter: max 292 mm, Weight 633.9 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 1979.20.44 Other numbers: Langton Collection 80

Research and responses

At the time this object was collected, the Bahr el Ghazal province was bordered by the Upper Nile Province to the east and Western Equatoria to the south; this area is now divided into the districts of Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and parts of Warab and El Buheyrat. Dhangrial is located within Northern Bahr el Ghazal. For a map showing the distribution of Dinka Tuich groups, see J. Ryle, 1982, Warriors of the White Nile: The Dinka, p. 25.

The local term for this type of basket is given as gankor, and they were made by women from riath or riet, which is a type of swamp grass (Nebel 1979, Dinka-English Dictionary, p. 77 and p. 109 under 'basket'). The same type of grass stem was also used to make baskets 1979.20.45-48 (which are also made in the same style) and 1979.20.112; the darker coloured bands were made by staining the strands with mud. Winnowing trays 1979.20.71-72 are also made in the same style, and were sometimes used as matching covers for the larger vessels. The way in which the body was woven is much clearer from these trays, which show the vertical struts radiating out from the central 'star' at the base, and then dividing a number of times before reaching the rim [RTS 2/8/2005].

Search terms: Basketry, Food and Drink, Agriculture and Horticulture, Basket, Food Accessory, Carrying Device