Ritual Vessel
Inland Niger Delta
12th /17th century
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
29.3 × 12.1 × 12.1 cm (11 1/2 × 4 3/4 × 4 3/4 in.)
Classification
earthenware
Department
Arts of Africa
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
60026
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research suggests that the ancient potters of Mali’s Inland Niger Delta region were at least part-time specialists and were women, as are the potters in the region today. It is likely that they created wares for domestic and ritual use, including figural sculptures in clay. This cylindrical vessel was likely made for ritual use considering the close attention to decorative detail that it displays and the relative rarity of flat-bottomed containers from the region. Delicately incised lines comple...