Bowl, mid 20th century
Fulani?expand_more
Calabash gourd, plant fibersexpand_more
Gift of Jim and Dixie Olmstead in memory of Charles J. Olmsteadexpand_more 2019.122.1
Not on Viewexpand_more
The fruit of the gourd, one of Africa’s earliest cultivated plants, has long been employed for purposes ranging from the obvious to the ingenious. The hollowed-out shells of gourds are used for storage or for serving food and drink. Gourds may also be used to make head coverings for babies, musical instruments, smoking pipes, or ritual regalia. This gourd was used as a container for liquids. Its exterior is embellished by pyro-engraving, which involves burning lines into the surface with a heated blade. At one point in its life cycle, the shell was cracked. An indigenous repair with plant fiber shows the value it had for its users.
Details
- Title
- Bowl
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2019.122.1
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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