Nuer bowl
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1936.10.33
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Nuer
Date Made:
By 1936
Materials:
Gourd Plant
Process:
Hollowed , Dried
Dimensions:
Ht = 150 mm, L rim = 276 mm, W = 244 mm, th walls = 5.3 mm [RTS 27/8/2004].
Weight:
469.9 g
Other Owners:
This object was probably collected in 1935 or 1936, when Evans-Pritchard held a research fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer) [RTS 28/9/2004].
Field Collector:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated 1936
Collected Date:
1935 - 1936
Description:
Large bowl made from a plant gourd, cut in half to create a hemispherical body with narrow upright rim with an uneven, irregularly cut top edge and a convex base.
The natural shape of the gourd means that the rim has a thickened knob on one side and turns inwards slightly on the opposite edge; it is oval in plan view.
A hole has been bored through the upper body, and there is a row of four small holes bored through the lower body on the opposite side of the vessel.
The function of these holes is unclear, but they seem to be original and cannot be related to an attempt to mend the vessel as they are not associated with any cracks.
The outer surface of the vessel is a mottled reddish brown to orange colour (Pantone 1817C and 7526C), while the inside is a matt yellowish brown (Pantone 7508C) with some possible scorch marks near the upper hole.
The bowl is complete, but not intact; there is a crack running down from the rim that divides into a network of smaller fractures.
These have been mended, probably not locally, by drilling four pairs of holes across the breaks and fitting metal staples through them.
The staples were replaced with silk thread by conservation in 2004.
The gourd weighs 469.9 grams, measures 276 by 244 mm across the rim, has a height of 150 mm and walls that are 5.3 mm thick.
Evans-Pritchard did his fieldwork amongst the Nuer in four expeditions, which took place in 1930, 1931, 1935 and 1936 amongst the Eastern Jikany and Lou of eastern Nuerland, and the Leek and western Jikany of western Nuerland. This object was probably collected in 1935 or 1936, when he held a research fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer ).
Bowls of this kind were used for dairy purposes, and can vary in size; similar examples include 1936.10.34-35. For a discussion of milking cows, which was done by women, girls and uninitiated boys, and the various uses to which the Nuer put milk, see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer, pp 22-26).
Rachael Sparks 17/8/2005.
Evans-Pritchard did his fieldwork amongst the Nuer in four expeditions, which took place in 1930, 1931, 1935 and 1936 amongst the Eastern Jikany and Lou of eastern Nuerland, and the Leek and western Jikany of western Nuerland. This object was probably collected in 1935 or 1936, when he held a research fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer ).
Bowls of this kind were used for dairy purposes, and can vary in size; similar examples include 1936.10.34-35. For a discussion of milking cows, which was done by women, girls and uninitiated boys, and the various uses to which the Nuer put milk, see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer, pp 22-26).
Rachael Sparks 17/8/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[p.
410] - 1936 [insert] 10 [end insert] E.
EVANS-PRITCHARD, M.A., Exeter College, Oxford.
- Specimens collected by himself in the EASTERN SUDAN, while travelling with a Grant from the
Rockefeller
Leverhulme Trustees, viz: [p.
412] [insert] 33-35 [end insert] - [One of] 3 Gourd bowls used for various dairy purposes, NUER.
Additional Accession Book Entry [p. 411] - 1936.10.33-35 numbers given - LW. [insert, red biro above number] A4-F6-12.
Card Catalogue Entry [tribes] - EASTERN SUDAN, NUER. Five gourd containers [insert, red] A4-F5-12 [end insert] .33-.35 Three half-gourd bowls used for various dairy purposes. Varying sizes ... Collected and donated by E. Evans-Pritchard [RTS 23/7/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - 1936.10.33 C [jewellers tag with object, but not fastened to it; 'C' is in blue pencil. RTS 27/8/2004].
Written on object - 1936.10.33 NUER dd E.-P. [inside rim] Dairy - [...] NUER d.d. E. Evans-Pritchard 1936 [faded inscription on outer walls, RTS 27/8/2004].
Additional Accession Book Entry [p. 411] - 1936.10.33-35 numbers given - LW. [insert, red biro above number] A4-F6-12.
Card Catalogue Entry [tribes] - EASTERN SUDAN, NUER. Five gourd containers [insert, red] A4-F5-12 [end insert] .33-.35 Three half-gourd bowls used for various dairy purposes. Varying sizes ... Collected and donated by E. Evans-Pritchard [RTS 23/7/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - 1936.10.33 C [jewellers tag with object, but not fastened to it; 'C' is in blue pencil. RTS 27/8/2004].
Written on object - 1936.10.33 NUER dd E.-P. [inside rim] Dairy - [...] NUER d.d. E. Evans-Pritchard 1936 [faded inscription on outer walls, RTS 27/8/2004].
