Lotuko rainstone jar
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1940.12.615
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan] Bahr el Jebel? Eastern Equatoria?
Cultural Group:
Lotuko [Otuho]
Date Made:
By 1940
Materials:
Pottery
Process:
Handbuilt , Fire-Hardened , ?Slipped
Dimensions:
Ht = 50 mm, Diam mouth = 21 mm, diam rim = 35 mm, diam neck = 31.3 mm, diam body = 55.6 mm [RTS 24/8/2004].
Weight:
49.3 g
Other Owners:
Presumably collected by Charles Gabriel Seligman and his wife Brenda Zara Seligman while conducting research in the Southern Sudan. They entered Lokoiya and Lotuko territory in January 1922, with their itinerary including visits to the Bellinian rest hous
Field Collector:
? Charles Gabriel Seligman & ?Brenda Zara Seligman
PRM Source:
Charles Gabriel Seligman or Brenda Zara Seligman
Acquired:
Donated 1940
Collected Date:
By 1940
Description:
Small ceramic jar for holding rainstones, consisting of an everted rim with narrow flat-topped lip sloping slightly down into the mouth, squared off at the outer lip edge, then flaring in to a broad neck that has been defined by an incised line around its base.
The body is biconical, with a broad convex base.
The vessel has been handmade from a well levigated clay, fired dark gray throughout (Pantone black 7C).
The surface has traces of a lighter brown colour, which may be either remnants of a slip or simply adhering dirt (Pantone 7508C).
The jar is complete and intact, and has a weight of 49.3 grams.
It has a height of 50 mm, and the mouth opening is 21 mm across, with a rim diameter of 35 mm, a neck diameter of 31.3 mm, and a maximum diameter across the centre of the body of 55.6 mm.
Note that the vessel has a small capacity, and would only hold a few rainstones.
This object was amongst material donated to the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1940, from the collection of Charles Gabriel Seligman and his wife Brenda Zara Seligman. It was collected by them from the Lotuko while conducting research in the Southern Sudan during 1922. Although they do not specify the provenance of the object, their personal diaries provide a record of their movements, showing that they entered Lokoiya and Lotuko territory in January 1922, with their itinerary including visits to the Bellinian rest house (11th-13th), a resthouse on the Mongalla-Torit road (14th), Ngala and Hangare Lokoiya (15th), Lokoiya (17th), Lokila (18th), Lobula (19th), Torit (20-23rd), Lebalwa (24th), Tarangala (25th January to 4th February), Idumela and Lugurn (4th February), Lopi (6th), Kiri Kiak (7th), Legoprof (10-16th), Lopir and Lomu (16th), Losua village (17th) and then back to Torit on February 20th. After that, they ventured into Acholi territory, then back into Torit and the surrounding area from March 5th to around March 15th (based on information collected by Fran Larson from the unpublished diaries of C.G. and B.Z. Seligman, in the Archives of the London School of Economics, Seligman manuscripts, files 1/4/1 and 1/4/6).
This jar was used by a Lotuko rainmaker to hold rainstones. The use of such jars is described by Cole as follows: "[the rainmaker] next produces a pot, roughly made of clay, in which he keeps his rainstones. These are stones which have been found upon the hills and are curious either for their shape or colour. I brought several of them to England, and some were found on examination to be pieces of rock crystal, aventurine and amethyst. The stones are then covered with water and the chief takes in his hand a peeled cane, which is split at the top, and with this he beckons the clouds towards him..." (W.E. Reymes Cole, 1910, "African Rain-making chiefs, the Gondokoro District, White Nile, Uganda", Man 10, p. 91). See also the discussion of the use and significance of rainstones in the southern Sudan in S. Simonse, 1992, Kings of Disaster , 292-301.
For an examples of the types of rainstones used by the Bari and Lugbara, see 1946.8.100.
This object is currently on display in the Court, case 29A.
Rachael Sparks 27/9/2005.
This object was amongst material donated to the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1940, from the collection of Charles Gabriel Seligman and his wife Brenda Zara Seligman. It was collected by them from the Lotuko while conducting research in the Southern Sudan during 1922. Although they do not specify the provenance of the object, their personal diaries provide a record of their movements, showing that they entered Lokoiya and Lotuko territory in January 1922, with their itinerary including visits to the Bellinian rest house (11th-13th), a resthouse on the Mongalla-Torit road (14th), Ngala and Hangare Lokoiya (15th), Lokoiya (17th), Lokila (18th), Lobula (19th), Torit (20-23rd), Lebalwa (24th), Tarangala (25th January to 4th February), Idumela and Lugurn (4th February), Lopi (6th), Kiri Kiak (7th), Legoprof (10-16th), Lopir and Lomu (16th), Losua village (17th) and then back to Torit on February 20th. After that, they ventured into Acholi territory, then back into Torit and the surrounding area from March 5th to around March 15th (based on information collected by Fran Larson from the unpublished diaries of C.G. and B.Z. Seligman, in the Archives of the London School of Economics, Seligman manuscripts, files 1/4/1 and 1/4/6).
This jar was used by a Lotuko rainmaker to hold rainstones. The use of such jars is described by Cole as follows: "[the rainmaker] next produces a pot, roughly made of clay, in which he keeps his rainstones. These are stones which have been found upon the hills and are curious either for their shape or colour. I brought several of them to England, and some were found on examination to be pieces of rock crystal, aventurine and amethyst. The stones are then covered with water and the chief takes in his hand a peeled cane, which is split at the top, and with this he beckons the clouds towards him..." (W.E. Reymes Cole, 1910, "African Rain-making chiefs, the Gondokoro District, White Nile, Uganda", Man 10, p. 91). See also the discussion of the use and significance of rainstones in the southern Sudan in S. Simonse, 1992, Kings of Disaster , 292-301.
For an examples of the types of rainstones used by the Bari and Lugbara, see 1946.8.100.
This object is currently on display in the Court, case 29A.
Rachael Sparks 27/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[p.
468]
The late Professor C.G.
SELIGMAN, M.D., F.R.S.
Miscellaneous collection presented in part by himself, June, 1940, and in part, after his death, by Mrs B.Z.
Seligman, October, 1940.
[p.
504] 1940.12.615 - Small clay pot to hold rain-stones, used by rain-maker.
LOTUKO, MONGALLA PROV., A[nglo].E[gyptian].
SUDAN.
See [C.G.
& B.Z.
Seligman 1932] "Pagan Tribes of the Nilotic Sudan", p.
330.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 1/6/2004].
Written on object - Clay pot to hold rain-stones, used by rain-maker. LOTUKO, MONGALLA PROV., A.E. SUDAN. d.d. Dr C.G. Seligman. 1940.12.615 [RTS 24/8/2004].
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 1/6/2004].
Written on object - Clay pot to hold rain-stones, used by rain-maker. LOTUKO, MONGALLA PROV., A.E. SUDAN. d.d. Dr C.G. Seligman. 1940.12.615 [RTS 24/8/2004].
