Accession Number
1985/2.4

Title
Vessel

Artist(s)
Kuba

Artist Nationality
Kuba (Democratic Republic of Congo style)

Object Creation Date
circa 1900

Medium & Support
terracotta, fiber, wood, and tukula powder

Dimensions
5 1/2 in (14 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase

Subject matter
Kuba artists apply their bold and sophisticated surface design to both ceremonial and everyday objects alike. Objects such as drums, boxes, stools, backrests, knives, swords, bangles, wisdom baskets, staffs and fly whisks were typically reserved for the king and his courtiers. However, these objects in addition to cups, rubbing oracles, pipes, combs, drinking horns, ritual spoons, and scepters also served specific religious and ceremonial functions, or were simply everyday objects for common use. 

This particular vessel contains tukula powder called tool or twool. Made from ground camwood, tukula was used abundantly on Kuba carvings. It was also smeared on clothing and used in times of mourning. Additionally, the geometric patterns on this vessel are similar to patterns found on Kuba textile, basketry, sculpture, and female body scarifications. The piece of wood attached to the end of the fiber served as a hook to hang the vessel on the interior walls of dwellings. 

References:
Daniel Biebuyck, The Arts of Zaire, 1985
Georges Meurant, African Textiles from the Kingdom of Kuba, 1986
Roy Sieber, African Textiles and Decorative Arts, 1972
Jan Vansina, The Children of Woot, 1978

Physical Description
Vessel with two bulbous sections and a tapered middle section with a small opening at the top. There is a braided fiber string wrapped around the tapered mid section with a piece of wood attached to the end of the fiber. The bulbous portions of the vessel are decorated with geometric patterns.

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
vessel

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Objects We Use
camwood (wood)
jar
prestige
terracottas (sculptural works)