Zande bowl
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1948.2.140
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Zande
Date Made:
By 1930
Materials:
Wood Plant , Pigment
Process:
Carved , Stained
Dimensions:
Ht = 150, L = 302, bowl ext. diam = 195 by 187, int. diam = 165 by 167, legs at base W = 39, th = 24 mm [RTS 22/3/2005].
Weight:
967.8 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:
Bowl carved from a single piece of wood, and consisting of a hemispherical bowl with a narrow flat-topped rim and deep body with concave interior hollow, slightly oval in plan view.
The outer surface has been carved as a series of slightly concave bands running horizontally, around the circumference, the first two being upright, then the bands gradually angling in towards the smooth, convex base, producing a decorative faceted surface.
The bowl itself stands free of the ground, as it is supported on either side by a pair of slightly longer legs, also carved from the same wooden block.
These have been cut flat across the top, with faceted sides giving them an angular appearance.
Each pair has a sub-triangular plan view from above, where it begins as a solid piece before splitting into 2 separate legs that angle slightly away from each other.
These have flat-cut bases with sections that vary in shape between 6 and 7-sided polygons.
The bowl is a gray colour on its interior, probably not its original shade, with patches of sooting evident, while the remaining surfaces have been stained, or possibly burnt, a dark brown to black colour throughout (Pantone black 7C); occasionally the orange coloured wood beneath becomes visible.
The bowl is complete, but has a crack running down the body from one side of the rim.
It has a weight of 967.8 grams, and is 150 mm high, with a total length of 302 mm.
The bowl itself measures 195 by 187 mm across the rim exterior, and 165 by 167 mm across the mouth.
The legs are typically 39 mm wide and 24 mm thick at the base.
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. Groups such as the Zaghawa, further north, apply a mixture of oil and soot, which also helps give the surface a glossy appearance (pers. comm. G.S. Reed 2005). A similar shaving technique to that seen on the legs of this stool is also found on other Zande objects, such as 1931.66.36 and 1940.12.608 (rubbing board oracles), 1948.2.137 (bowl), 1948.2.141-142 (platter stools) or 1917.25.72 (lamellaphone).
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. Groups such as the Zaghawa, further north, apply a mixture of oil and soot, which also helps give the surface a glossy appearance (pers. comm. G.S. Reed 2005). A similar shaving technique to that seen on the legs of this stool is also found on other Zande objects, such as 1931.66.36 and 1940.12.608 (rubbing board oracles), 1948.2.137 (bowl), 1948.2.141-142 (platter stools) or 1917.25.72 (lamellaphone).
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, 266] 1948.2.140 - ZANDE.
Cup-shaped wooden bowl suspended between two pairs of leg-supports on each side.
Diam.
across bowl 7", height 6".
Coloured black.
Plain.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 2/2/2004].
Written on object - ZANDE, 1948.2.140, d.d. EVANS-PRITCHARD [black ink, top of foot], Zande [pencil, top of opposite foot; RTS 22/3/2005].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, SUDAN, Zande tribe. Wooden bowl. Coll. E.E. Evans-Pritchard and found unentered Feb. 1948. 1948.2.140 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 22/3/2005].
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 2/2/2004].
Written on object - ZANDE, 1948.2.140, d.d. EVANS-PRITCHARD [black ink, top of foot], Zande [pencil, top of opposite foot; RTS 22/3/2005].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - AFRICA, SUDAN, Zande tribe. Wooden bowl. Coll. E.E. Evans-Pritchard and found unentered Feb. 1948. 1948.2.140 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 22/3/2005].
