Zande bowl
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1948.2.132
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Zande
Date Made:
By 1930
Materials:
Wood Plant , Pigment
Process:
Carved , Stained
Dimensions:
Ht = 221, rim diam ext. = 325 x 310, mouth diam = 268 x 265; foot Ht = 872, L = 133.5, W = 129.5 mm [RTS 12/4/2005].
Weight:
>1000 g
Other Owners:
Probably collected by Evans-Pritchard himself during his fieldwork amongst the Zande, which took place during 1927, part of 1928 and 1929 and for several months during 1930 [CM; RTS 6/7/2004].
Field Collector:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Found unentered February 1948
Collected Date:
1927 - 1930
Description:
Slightly oval bowl carved from a single block of wood and consisting of a narrow, flat-topped rim with thin bevelled outer edge, on a deep body with concave sides flaring down and in to a flat underside set on top of a solid pedestal foot that splays out to a flat base.
The foot has four flat sides with narrow strips shaved down their edges to produce bevelled corners.
The interior of the bowl and foot underside have been kept the natural yellow colour of the wood (Pantone 7508C), while the top of the rim and exterior have been stained a dark brownish black (Pantone black 7C).
The wood is very soft and lightweight.
The bowl is complete, but there is some damage to the edges of the rim and mouth, and the foot underside in particular has worn away in laces with fresh chips missing from the edges.
There are also a few circular holes across the body that may reflect insect activity.
The bowl is 221 mm high, and has a rim diameter of 325 by 310 mm and mouth diameter of 268 by 265 mm, while the rim is from 20 to 28 mm thick.
The foot is 82 mm high, with a base measuring 133.5 by 129.5 mm across.
Collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard during his fieldwork amongst the Zande, which took place during 1927, part of 1928 and 1929 and for several months during 1930.
Wooden bowls and stools were carved by specialist craftsmen from several species of green timber, probably during the dry season, and were used by the people form whom they were acquired. The black staining and polishing was done by the owners themselves.
For similar Zande bowls, see 1948.2.130 and 1948.2.134 (both with fenestrations through their feet, but otherwise of similar shape), and 1948.2.135 (with cylindrical rather than pyramidal foot, also fenestrated).
Rachael Sparks 18/9/2005.
Collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard during his fieldwork amongst the Zande, which took place during 1927, part of 1928 and 1929 and for several months during 1930.
Wooden bowls and stools were carved by specialist craftsmen from several species of green timber, probably during the dry season, and were used by the people form whom they were acquired. The black staining and polishing was done by the owners themselves.
For similar Zande bowls, see 1948.2.130 and 1948.2.134 (both with fenestrations through their feet, but otherwise of similar shape), and 1948.2.135 (with cylindrical rather than pyramidal foot, also fenestrated).
Rachael Sparks 18/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[p.
264] - E.
E.
EVANS-PRITCHARD, INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, OXFORD.
Found unentered; collected by donor.
[p, 265] 1948.2.132 - ZANDE.
Wooden bowl, on pyramidal foot similar to 1948.2.130 but this is solid.
Rim not decorated.
Height 9", 12" across top.
Outside painted black.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 2/2/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, Sudan, ZANDE. Wooden bowl on solid, pyramidal pedestal foot. Coll. E.E. Evans-Pritchard. Found unentered Feb. 1948. 1948.2.132 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 9/4/2005].
Written on object - ZANDE [pencil]; ZANDE. 1948.2.132. d.d. EVANS-PRITCHARD [ink; RTS 9/4/2005].
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 2/2/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, Sudan, ZANDE. Wooden bowl on solid, pyramidal pedestal foot. Coll. E.E. Evans-Pritchard. Found unentered Feb. 1948. 1948.2.132 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 9/4/2005].
Written on object - ZANDE [pencil]; ZANDE. 1948.2.132. d.d. EVANS-PRITCHARD [ink; RTS 9/4/2005].
