Accession Number
2000/2.112

Title
Vessel

Artist(s)

Object Creation Date
early 20th century

Medium & Support
terracotta

Dimensions
9 5/8 in x 7 1/2 in x 6 1/16 in (24.5 cm x 19 cm x 15.4 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis

Subject matter
Throughout the Grassfields region of Cameroon, material culture acted as a signifier of a person’s place within the social hierarchy that many kingdoms in this area share. This included pottery as well. Many ceramic containers or vessels were, and continue to be, produced in Bamessing and Babessi. With large, local clay deposits, Bamessing and Babessi gained a reputation for their strong and elaborate pottery. Women created these containers, which were prized all over the Grassfields region by elites. Vessels with more decoration conferred more prestige on their owner, as did bowls with raised legs. The context for the creation or use of this vessel is unknown. More research is necessary to understand this unique object. 

References:
Forni, Silvia. 2007. "Containers of Life: Pottery and Social Relations in the Grassfields (Cameroon)."African Arts 40.1: 42-53.
Gebauer, Paul. 1979. Art of Cameroon. Portland, Or.: Portland Art Association.
Homberger, L. 2008. Cameroon: Art and Kings. Zürich: Museum Rietberg.
Northern, Tamara. 1984. The Art of Cameroon. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.
Page, Donna. 2007. A Cameroon World: Art and Artifacts from the Caroline and Marshall Mount Collection. New York: QCC Art Gallery Press.

Physical Description
Small, round vessel in the form of a teapot. The opening has a small lip and there is a curved handle on one side of the vessel. The opposite side of the vessel has a small, curved spout. Around the top half of the vessel is a pattern of almond shapes with a scalloped edge on both sides. Between each shape is an area with small incised dots. 

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
pottery (visual works)
prestige
social status
symbols of office or status
wealth
women (female humans)