Ritual Bowl
Igbo, Izzi region, Nigeria
Early 20th Century
Provenance: Collected by Eric Robertson, NY in the 1970’s
This distinctive bowl is in the form of an abstracted face, with bands of curving horizontal lines for eyes, a raised vertical line representing its nose and a large opening representing its mouth. On the rim outlining the opening of the mouth there are two incised dots that seem to represent the nostrils of the nose. The surface is heavily encrusted with organic matter, suggesting it received many ritual offerings and libations. No definitive research has been done to confirm the exact function of these types of vessels.
The Barbier Mueller Museum exhibited a similar example in its exhibition “6000 ans de Receptacles, La vaisselle des siecles”.
Height: 5 ¼ in / 13.3 cm
Ritual Bowl
Igbo, Izzi region, Nigeria
Early 20th Century
Provenance: Collected by Eric Robertson, NY in the 1970’s
This distinctive bowl is in the form of an abstracted face, with bands of curving horizontal lines for eyes, a raised vertical line representing its nose and a large opening representing its mouth. On the rim outlining the opening of the mouth there are two incised dots that seem to represent the nostrils of the nose. The surface is heavily encrusted with organic matter, suggesting it received many ritual offerings and libations. No definitive research has been done to confirm the exact function of these types of vessels.
The Barbier Mueller Museum exhibited a similar example in its exhibition “6000 ans de Receptacles, La vaisselle des siecles”.
Height: 5 ¼ in / 13.3 cm