1979.20.168

Collection type

Object

Description

Oval gourd food bowl with incised decoration below the rim [RTS 24/3/2005].

Long description

Large gourd bowl for eating from, consisting of a narrow rounded rim on an upright body with convex sides to a convex base. The rim is pinched in slightly on either side, creating an peanut-shaped plan view to the object; these constrictions come from the natural shape of the original gourd. The material has a light yellowish cream body, discoloured a matt grayish yellow on the interior surface (Pantone 7508C), and smooth reddish orange exterior (Pantone 725C) that has been burnished. The upper part of the outer walls have been decorated with an incised pattern, consisting of 2 broad bands running around the circumference. Each is made up of 2 parallel lines; triangles are pendant from the top line, and point up from the base line with their tips just touching; this creates a series of reserved lozenges in the spaces between. Each triangle has been filled with incised crosshatching. The upper band is interrupted below the thickened pinched in side of the rim, while the lower one continues around the body unbroken. Below these is a third, narrower band, filled with crosshatching. The excecution is irregular, and the bands themselves undulate somewhat. The bowl is complete, but a small portion of the rim has been mended. There are some stains and residues on the interior surface, and traces of insect bore holes; the base underside has a large worn patch over it, from use. The bowl has a weight of 166.5 grams and is 150 mm high, 301 mm long and 145 mm wide, with walls that are 4 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, Process Hollowed, Process Dried, Process Decorated, Process Incised, Process Burnished

Dimensions

Height 150 mm, Length 301 mm, Width: max 145 mm, Thick 4 mm rim, Weight 166.5 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 1979.20.168 Other numbers: ∆9?

Research and responses

The method of decorating some Larim gourds is described for 1979.20.140: women apply a needle to incise the pattern, then rub charcoal over the lines to colour them. On this particular example, there appears to be no added colour. This method 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).

This particular vessel has a similar decorative design to that used on gourd bowls 1979.20.163-4 and 1979.20.167 [RTS 24/3/2005].

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