Zande bowl
Accession Number:
1948.2.137
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Zande
Date Made:
By 1930
Materials:
Wood Plant , Pigment
Process:
Carved , Stained
Dimensions:
Ht = 200, rim L = 673, W = 441, internal rim L = 631, W = 408, rim th = 14 to 32 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:
Very large oval bowl carved from a single block of wood, and consisting of a narrow flat-topped rim, with the sides cut flat at either end to create two hand grips, while the outer walls have been shaved along their length to form series of ten flat, roughly parallel planes running around the front and back faces, gradually stepping down towards the base, with similar shaved strips running down vertically beneath each handle; this fluting meets near the centre of the base, which is convex, and has been smoothed.
The bowl has a deep interior hollow that follows the outer shape of the walls, and has been left the bright natural yellow colour of the wood (Pantone 7508C), while the upper rim surface and exterior have been stained dark brownish black (Pantone black 7C), except for a reserved oval area at the centre of the base that corresponds with the smoothed area.
The bowl is complete and intact; there are a number of lentoid shaped cuts in the walls both inside and out, but these appear to be natural knot holes rather than any deliberate modification of the form.
There is also a reddish brown stain of some liquid material running down one wall to the centre of the base interior.
The vessel has a height of 200 mm, an external rim length of 673 mm and width of 441 mm and an internal mouth measuring 631 by 408 mm across.
The rim itself ranges from 14 to 32 mm in thickness.
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 a similar style of bowl, see 1948.2.133, where the handles are more pronounced; however that example also has incised decoration, while lacking the distinctive body fluting. The style of carving, particularly the fluted sections, is seen on other Zande woodwork, such as various types of bowl (1948.2.140), stool (1948.2.141), platter (1948.2.142) rubbing board oracles (1931.66.36) and musical instruments (1917.25.72).
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 a similar style of bowl, see 1948.2.133, where the handles are more pronounced; however that example also has incised decoration, while lacking the distinctive body fluting. The style of carving, particularly the fluted sections, is seen on other Zande woodwork, such as various types of bowl (1948.2.140), stool (1948.2.141), platter (1948.2.142) rubbing board oracles (1931.66.36) and musical instruments (1917.25.72).
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] 1948.2.137 - ZANDE.
Large oval wooden bowl; 26" long, 18" across, 8" high.
Rounded bottom, outside coloured black except for an oval patch on the bottom.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 2/2/2004].
Written on object - ZANDE. 1948.2.137. d.d. EVANS-PRITCHARD [ink; RTS 12/4/2005].
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 2/2/2004].
Written on object - ZANDE. 1948.2.137. d.d. EVANS-PRITCHARD [ink; RTS 12/4/2005].
