water pot, unrecorded Makonde artist

Exhibition Label:
"Earthly Vessels: African Ceramics," Sep-2009, Nancy Mahaney
The Tattooed Vessel: The Makonde word nkova is used to describe both the elaborate surface decoration that we see on this water pot and the tattooing done on the human body. There are many visual similarities between the tattoo designs and those used on the pots.
Water pots like this feature prominently in the lives of Makonde women and reflect their station in life. When a girl takes on adult responsibilities, she is given a small version. As an adult, she may commission a large water pot, which becomes one of her most prized possessions. The function of a pot may change during a woman’s life, perhaps holding grain after it can no longer contain water, and ultimately being placed upon her grave after death.