1979.20.164

Collection type

Object

Description

Decorated hemispherical gourd cup, used for drinking water by both sexes [RTS 24/3/2005].

Long description

Gourd cup consisting of a narrow flat-topped rim, slightly pinched in at one side and swollen opposite, following the natural shape of the original gourd's base and neck. The body is hemispherical, with a convex base, and it is roughly oval in plan view. The interior is a matt yellow colour (Pantone 7508C), while the exterior is a smooth orange (Pantone 1365C), decorated over most of its body with a series of incised and black charcoal inlaid patterns. These consists of 2 broad bands that run around the circumference below the rim, made up of parallel lines with triangle pendants from the top, and pointing up from the base line, their tips just touching; this creates a series of reserved lozenges, with each of the triangles being filled with crosshatching. The upper band breaks immediately below the swollen side of the rim; the lower band continues around the body unbroken. Below this are a series of narrow hatched bands in a zigzag that runs around the circumference, creating 7 triangles that point down towards the plain centre of the vessel's base. Each of these triangular areas has a smaller crosshatched triangle at its middle. The execution is irregular, and some lines extend beyond their frames. The cup is complete and intact, with a reddish brown patch covering the centre of the base interior (Pantone 7522C), presumably representing some former contents. It has a weight of 37.6 grams and is 85 mm high, 163 mm long and 103 mm wide, with walls that are 3 mm thick [RTS 24/3/2005].

Geographical reference

South Sudan

Africa > Eastern Africa > South Sudan

Eastern Equatoria Loryok

Cultural groups

Southern Laarim

Person

Field collector Jill Goudie

PRM source Patti Langton

Date / Period

Date made: Before 03/1979

Date collected

20 - 25 March 1979

Acquisition information

Purchased: 1979

Materials and processes

Material Gourd Plant, Material Charcoal, Process Hollowed, Process Dried, Process Decorated, Process Incised

Dimensions

Height 85 mm, Length 163 mm, Width: max 103 mm, Thick 3 mm rim, Weight 37.6 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 1979.20.164 Other numbers: ∆2

Research and responses

For a similar object, see 1979.20.169. Although this particular example is said to have been used for drinking water, it would appear that some other substance has been held in it at some time, creating the reddish brown stain on the interior of the base. Its decorative design is similar to that used on gourd bowls 1979.20.163 and 1979.20.167-8.

The method of decorating these gourds is described for 1979.20.140: women apply a needle to incise the pattern, then rub charcoal over the lines to colour them. This differs from Dinka gourd decoration, where charcoal is used to mark out the designs, which are cut in with an iron needle then scored using a heated spear or knife blade (see 1979.20.91) [RTS 24/3/2005].

Search terms: Vessel, Food and Drink, Cup, Food Accessory