Anuak bowl

Other views of this artifact:

Accession Number:

1936.10.81

Country:

Sudan

Region:

[Southern Sudan]

Cultural Group:

Anywaa [Anuak]

Date Made:

By 1936

Materials:

Gourd Plant , Pigment

Process:

Hollowed , Dried , Decorated , Incised , Inlaid , Pyroengraved Pokerwork

Dimensions:

Ht = 206, rim diam = 405 x 294, rim th = 5 mm [RTS 18/8/2005].

Weight:

389.7 g

Local Name:

awäl

Other Owners:

Presumably collected by Evans-Pritchard during his period of fieldwork amongst the Anuak between early March and May 1935 [RTS 18/6/2004].

Field Collector:

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

PRM Source:

Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard

Acquired:

Donated 1936

Collected Date:

March - May 1935

Description:

Bowl made from a plant gourd, cut in half to create a deep hemispherical body with narrow, upright, flat-topped rim and convex base. The natural shape of the gourd means that the rim is thickened on one side and turns slightly inwards on the wall opposite, representing the base and stem of the original plant. It is oval in plan view. The outer surface is a glossy reddish orange colour (Pantone 478C), while the interior is a matt yellow (Pantone 7508C). The upper surface of the rim has been blackened, possibly through burning, and the outer surface has been covered with incised decoration, coloured with a black pigment (Pantone Black 7C). The design is broken into three main zones. The upper body below the rim has been filled with rows of crosshatched geometric motifs - with 2 semicircular rows of pendant triangles beneath the thickened 'spout' part of the rim, pointing down, and 2 further rows of triangles that point upwards below these, marking out a more rectangular space. This is flanked on the right by a thick band made up of 6 rows of pendant triangles, and on the left by 2 rows of alternating squares with 6 rows of triangles below. These two bands extend around the circumference to the other side of the vessel, where there is a more irregular space filled with 1 row of pendant triangles, and 4 rows of triangles that point upwards. The middle section of the vessel has been decorated with a series of zoomorphic designs, arranged largely in 2 rows, and drawn with rectangular crosshatched bodies. The upper row consists of a long necked quadrupeds, probably a giraffes, 5 humpbacked cows with curving horns and prominent udders, 6 quadrupeds with horns that curl backwards, possibly goats or antelope, 2 more giraffes, a quadruped with 2 projections from its back, horns and an unidentified strand coming out of its head (tether?); a possible lion, and one further quadruped. All the animals in this row are looking to the right. There are also 4 skeletal fish drawn in the field above. The lower row varies the direction in which the animals face, and consists of a horned quadruped, male zebu, female zebu, 9 horned quadrupeds, 2 larger quadrupeds with back projections and 'tethers' from their heads, one of which has a pizzle, and 2 more quadrupeds, one of which is likewise equipped with pizzle. There is also a long lizard or crocodile in the field above. Finally, the lowest part of the bowl has been decorated with 5 horizontal rows of pendant crosshatched triangles, with the centre of the base underside left blank and undecorated. The bowl is complete, but has minor cracks down the body, one of which has been repaired with a copper staple; there is also considerable insect damage, particularly to the interior. It has a weight of 389.7 grams and is 206 mm high, with a rim diameter of 405 by 294 mm and rim thickness of 5 mm.

Presumably collected by Evans-Pritchard during his period of fieldwork amongst the Anuak between early March and May 1935 (see (E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Political System of the Anuak of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, p. 3).

This type of vessel was used for holding beer, water, or porridge, and is known locally as awäl . Although the rim may have been blackened by burning, the majority of decoration has been applied using a technique similar to that used by the Northern and Southern Larim, who incise a pattern into the surface using a needle, then rub charcoal over the lines to colour them (see 1979.20.150). It differs from that used by the Dinka, who mark out their designs in charcoal, cut them into the surface with an iron needle then burn them in using a heated spear or knife blade (for an example of this method, see 1979.20.91). The Nuer and Zande also use pyroengraving techniques.

Rachael Sparks 18/8/2005.

Primary Documentation:

Accession Book Entry [p. 410] - 1936 [insert] 10 [end insert] E. EVANS-PRITCHARD, M.A., Exeter College, Oxford. - Specimens collected by himself in the EASTERN SUDAN, while travelling with a Grant from the Rockefeller Leverhulme Trustees, viz: [p. 416] [insert] 79-81 [end insert] - [One of] 3 Large gourd bowls, awäl , for beer, water, or porridge, engraved all over the outside with figures of cattle, people, etc. etc. ANUAK.
Additional Accession Book Entry [p. 415] - 1936.10.81. Number given. LM h[eight] = 210 mm; max[imum] dia[meter] = 405 mm.

Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 30/1/2004].

Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, Sudan. ANUAK tribe. Gourd bowl with zoomorphic decoration. Coll. E.E. Evans-Pritchard. 1936.10.81 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 18/8/2005].

Written on object - Awäl . Beer-bowl. ANUAK, E. SUDAN. d.d. E. Evans-Pritchard 1936 [RTS 18/8/2005].