bottle

unrecorded Azande artist, artist

bottle, 1925–1990

Where object was made: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Material/technique: ceramic; incising

Dimensions:
Object Height/Diameter (Height x Diameter): 36 x 19.5 cm
Object Height/Diameter (Height x Diameter): 14 3/16 x 7 11/16 in

Credit line: Anonymous gift

Accession number: 2020.0137

Not on display

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Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"Earthly Vessels: African Ceramics," Sep-2009, Nancy Mahaney
Symbols of Social Influence: Ganda and Zande are two of the few African societies where pottery is traditionally made by men. Gourd-shaped bottles, such as this Ganda piece, are used to hold drinking water or beer, but are also collected as luxury items by tourists and the wealthy members of the society. Ornate Zande bottles are commissioned by tribal leaders as gifts. This act of giving not only honors the recipient of the gift but also serves to reinforce the giver’s reputation as a man of importance.