Zande bowl
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1930.86.43
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Zande
Maker:
Possibly Mbitim?
Date Made:
By 1930
Materials:
Pottery
Process:
Handbuilt , Coiled ? , Fire-Hardened , Decorated , Impressed , Incised Burnished
Dimensions:
Ht = 107, Rim Diam = 159, mouth diam = 139, shoulder diam = 182, base diam = 80 mm [RTS 12/11/2004].
Weight:
663.9 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:
Purchased 31 December 1930
Collected Date:
1927 - 1930
Description:
Handmade pottery bowl, with walls of irregular thickness and horizontal ridging that suggests the vessel was coil made.
This has been made from a well levigated clay with numerous small to large gold mica inclusions, fired a mottled pinkish brown (Pantone 7515C) to black (Pantone black 7C) colour over the surfaces inside and out, with rare patches of a lighter yellowish buff colour on the exterior walls (Pantone 7508C).
The exterior has been burnished.
The vessel is circular in plan view, and has an everted rim with a flat upper surface that slopes down to the outer edge, with a short straight neck below that flares in to its base, before turning out to a high rounded shoulder.
The walls below then flare in to a narrow flat base.
The flat bevelled rim edge has been tooled to produce a series of six shallow parallel grooves running around the circumference.
The sides of the neck are plain, then its base is decorated with a narrow band of impressed squares.
The shoulder area below is covered with a series of similar concentric grooves, interrupted by textured bands made up of these impressions; specifically, 3 grooves, of which the lower 2 are filled with impressed squares; a broad section decorated with a series of oblique rows of these impressions in a crosshatched pattern; a horizontal row of impressions at its base; 2 grooves, then a narrow band of linear hatching, a groove, a narrow band of impressed squares that broadens on one side to form 2 rows, 3 more grooves, then a second broad band of 'textile'-like impressed crosshatching, ending with 2 grooves with vertical hatching impressed on top of them at its base.
The lower walls of the vessel are then left undecorated until just above the base, where there is another broad band, filled with widely spaced rows of impressed squares in a more open lattice design.
The underside of the base is decorated with a broad, incised spiral that runs from the centre to the outer edge, while the base interior is decorated with a broad groove that defines the base of the walls, then a circle with an incised 8 spoke star running across the centre.
The decorative is therefore made up from two basic elements - shallow grooves running around the circumference, and applied with a minimum of turning, as they are not very regular, and patterns made by impressing a tool into the surface.
Most of these impressed marks look to have been made with a tool that has an angular, square leading edge, applied either at an angle, creating a straight line or almost wedge-shaped mark, or from directly above, creating a square depression.
However the band that runs around the maximum diameter of the pot has been made using a tool with a straight, narrow leading edge.
The bowl is complete and intact, and has a weight of 663.9 grams.
The diameter of its rim is 159 mm, while its mouth measures 139 mm across; the shoulder has a diameter of 182 mm, its base is 80 mm wide and it has a maximum height of 107.
The actual height varies slightly, as the vessel is handmade and not completely regular.
This vessel was 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. He did not record its local name, although Larken tells us that the Zande had a specific term for each different type of pot. Smaller vessels were used for cooking meat, and larger ones for water, making bakinde, o r brewing beer (P.M. Larken, 1927, "Impressions of the Azande", Sudan Notes and Records X, p. 131). For other Zande bowls in the collection, made in similar style and using the same type of clay, see 1930.86.44 and 1931.66.2; for anthropomorphic jars in the same fabric, see 1934.8.134 and 1950.12.117-8; for bookends in the same style, see 1934.8.135 and 1996.53.1. The potter is not named, but may have been Mbitim, from whom Powell-Cotton visited at Li Rangu on April 28th 1933, collecting raw samples of clay, some of his tools (see 1934.8.132) and finished examples of his work, which seems to be of similar style to the Evans-Pritchard pieces. Powell-Cotton also filmed him in action (see Mrs Powell Cotton, "Village Handicrafts in the Sudan", Man 34 (112), pp 90-91).
The mica inclusions noted in the clay of this example seem to be a characteristic of Zande pottery; mica occurs naturally in beds throughout the region, known as hilidiwe, meaning 'slough of the moon' (P.M. Larken, 1926, "An Account of the Zande", Sudan Notes and Records IX no. 1, p. 4). Schweinfurth noted the presence of mica in both Bongo and Zande pottery, which he suggested made their wares very brittle. He believed this mix to be naturally occurring and that potters did not know how to remove it from their fabrics: "... [Zande potters] have no idea of the method of giving their clay a proper consistency by washing out the particles of mica and by adding a small quantity of sand" (G. Schweinfurth, 1873, In the Heart of Africa Volume I, p. 292; Volume II, p. 25). This mica may well have been left in the clay deliberately, as it gives the vessels an attractive sparkle, and does not seem to have impaired the plasticity of the material, as the detailed modelling of several of these vessels demonstrates. Larken discusses Zande customs regarding the collection and working of clay. Clay is usually found on the banks of a stream, and prepared by pounding it in a mortar before shaping it by hand. Tools are limited to pieces of gourd or a rounded pebble for smoothing; decoration is applied by something simple, such as a short stick bound with cord. Larken goes on to describe the firing and finishing: "When dry, pots are turned upside down and baked in the open, only certain kinds of wood being suitable for the fire. While still red-hot, they are splashed with water in which bark of the ndili tree has been soaked, in order to blacken them. A black polish is sometimes given to the smooth surfaces, by means of graphite grains, which are mixed with water and a little powdered ironstone, painted on the clay and gently but continually rubbed into it with a polishing-pebble before the pot is fired". The resulting vessel is not very strong, and only slightly porous, if at all; broad leaves may be used for a lid, if required (P.M. Larken, 1927, "Impressions of the Azande", Sudan Notes and Records X, pp 129-131). According to Evans-Pritchard, all Zande potters were male and pottery production was "... an art of the Ambomu, who made certain types of pottery... used for carrying water, ablutions, brewing beer, boiling oil, roasting and boiling met, etc. On the whole it was asserted that small-mouthed pots were Mbomu and that designs with larger mouths came from the south, especially from the Mangbetu." (E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1971, The Azande , p. 95). (Evans-Pritchard 1971, The Azande, p. 95).
This vessel is currently on display in the Lower Gallery, Case 128A.
Rachael Sparks 24/8/2005.
This vessel was 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. He did not record its local name, although Larken tells us that the Zande had a specific term for each different type of pot. Smaller vessels were used for cooking meat, and larger ones for water, making bakinde, o r brewing beer (P.M. Larken, 1927, "Impressions of the Azande", Sudan Notes and Records X, p. 131). For other Zande bowls in the collection, made in similar style and using the same type of clay, see 1930.86.44 and 1931.66.2; for anthropomorphic jars in the same fabric, see 1934.8.134 and 1950.12.117-8; for bookends in the same style, see 1934.8.135 and 1996.53.1. The potter is not named, but may have been Mbitim, from whom Powell-Cotton visited at Li Rangu on April 28th 1933, collecting raw samples of clay, some of his tools (see 1934.8.132) and finished examples of his work, which seems to be of similar style to the Evans-Pritchard pieces. Powell-Cotton also filmed him in action (see Mrs Powell Cotton, "Village Handicrafts in the Sudan", Man 34 (112), pp 90-91).
The mica inclusions noted in the clay of this example seem to be a characteristic of Zande pottery; mica occurs naturally in beds throughout the region, known as hilidiwe, meaning 'slough of the moon' (P.M. Larken, 1926, "An Account of the Zande", Sudan Notes and Records IX no. 1, p. 4). Schweinfurth noted the presence of mica in both Bongo and Zande pottery, which he suggested made their wares very brittle. He believed this mix to be naturally occurring and that potters did not know how to remove it from their fabrics: "... [Zande potters] have no idea of the method of giving their clay a proper consistency by washing out the particles of mica and by adding a small quantity of sand" (G. Schweinfurth, 1873, In the Heart of Africa Volume I, p. 292; Volume II, p. 25). This mica may well have been left in the clay deliberately, as it gives the vessels an attractive sparkle, and does not seem to have impaired the plasticity of the material, as the detailed modelling of several of these vessels demonstrates. Larken discusses Zande customs regarding the collection and working of clay. Clay is usually found on the banks of a stream, and prepared by pounding it in a mortar before shaping it by hand. Tools are limited to pieces of gourd or a rounded pebble for smoothing; decoration is applied by something simple, such as a short stick bound with cord. Larken goes on to describe the firing and finishing: "When dry, pots are turned upside down and baked in the open, only certain kinds of wood being suitable for the fire. While still red-hot, they are splashed with water in which bark of the ndili tree has been soaked, in order to blacken them. A black polish is sometimes given to the smooth surfaces, by means of graphite grains, which are mixed with water and a little powdered ironstone, painted on the clay and gently but continually rubbed into it with a polishing-pebble before the pot is fired". The resulting vessel is not very strong, and only slightly porous, if at all; broad leaves may be used for a lid, if required (P.M. Larken, 1927, "Impressions of the Azande", Sudan Notes and Records X, pp 129-131). According to Evans-Pritchard, all Zande potters were male and pottery production was "... an art of the Ambomu, who made certain types of pottery... used for carrying water, ablutions, brewing beer, boiling oil, roasting and boiling met, etc. On the whole it was asserted that small-mouthed pots were Mbomu and that designs with larger mouths came from the south, especially from the Mangbetu." (E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1971, The Azande , p. 95). (Evans-Pritchard 1971, The Azande, p. 95).
This vessel is currently on display in the Lower Gallery, Case 128A.
Rachael Sparks 24/8/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[BIV, p.
138] - 1930 [insert] 86 [end insert]
E.E.
EVANS PRITCHARD
31 Dec.
Specimens collected by himself in the EASTERN SUDAN, etc.
[...] [p.
139, insert] 42-44 [end insert] - [1 of] 3 decorated
black
reddish pottery bowls, AZANDE.
[...] [Base of p.
139, total of items 1930.86.1-65] - P[ai]d by cheque 31 Dec £
25-0-0
.
Added Accession Book Entry [page opposite 138] - 1930.86 See Related Documents File for letter from Henry Balfour to Evans-Pritchard concerning the purchase of this collection.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 3/2/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - AZANDE. BAHR-EL-GHAZAL, E. CENT. AFRICA. Evans-Pritchard colln. Pur. 31.12.1930 [Paper label stuck to surface; BR 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 22/9/2004].
Related Documents File - This contains a letter from Balfour to Evans-Pritchard, dated 31 December 1930 that specifies the objects which he would like to purchase for the Pitt Rivers Museum, and suggests a price of £25, which was one quarter of his annual budget. The list matches the objects ultimately accessioned quite closely. This item may be listed as one of "2 pots" [although there seem to be three ceramic vessels accessioned as part of this group, not two; see also 1930.86.42, 44].
RDF 1930.86 also contains a letter from Evans-Pritchard to Mr. Malcolm dated 12 December 1930, offering him some 81 Zande and Nuer objects. As Malcolm was curator of the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum, it seems unlikely that these objects were ever sent to the Pitt Rivers Museum and this letter is only useful as background for Evans-Pritchard's attritudes to the intended future use of his material, and as evidence for the temporary storage of these objects in Professor Seligman's office in the London School of Economics at the time. The file also contains an undated list of 48 objects, which does not seem to match accessioned material and could be the list of rejected items that Balfour mentions in the letter described above [RTS 17/5/2004].
Added Accession Book Entry [page opposite 138] - 1930.86 See Related Documents File for letter from Henry Balfour to Evans-Pritchard concerning the purchase of this collection.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 3/2/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - AZANDE. BAHR-EL-GHAZAL, E. CENT. AFRICA. Evans-Pritchard colln. Pur. 31.12.1930 [Paper label stuck to surface; BR 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 22/9/2004].
Related Documents File - This contains a letter from Balfour to Evans-Pritchard, dated 31 December 1930 that specifies the objects which he would like to purchase for the Pitt Rivers Museum, and suggests a price of £25, which was one quarter of his annual budget. The list matches the objects ultimately accessioned quite closely. This item may be listed as one of "2 pots" [although there seem to be three ceramic vessels accessioned as part of this group, not two; see also 1930.86.42, 44].
RDF 1930.86 also contains a letter from Evans-Pritchard to Mr. Malcolm dated 12 December 1930, offering him some 81 Zande and Nuer objects. As Malcolm was curator of the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum, it seems unlikely that these objects were ever sent to the Pitt Rivers Museum and this letter is only useful as background for Evans-Pritchard's attritudes to the intended future use of his material, and as evidence for the temporary storage of these objects in Professor Seligman's office in the London School of Economics at the time. The file also contains an undated list of 48 objects, which does not seem to match accessioned material and could be the list of rejected items that Balfour mentions in the letter described above [RTS 17/5/2004].
