Nuer bowl
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1936.10.35
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Nuer
Date Made:
By 1936
Materials:
Gourd Plant
Process:
Hollowed , Dried
Dimensions:
Ht = 75 mm, L rim = 156 mm, W rim = 130 mm, th walls = 2.3 mm [RTS 27/8/2004].
Weight:
56.7 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:
Bowl made from a plant gourd, cut in half to create a hemispherical body with narrow upright rim and convex base.
The natural shape of the gourd means that this is thickened on opposite sides of the rim and is oval in plan view.
There is a crack running down from the rim to mid body on one side, dividing into two at its base; this was originally mended by punching a hole either side near the top of the crack and fixing the edges with a metal staple.
This was probably not a local repair, and the staple was replaced with silk thread stitching in 2004.
The object is otherwise complete, with some scorch marks on the rim.
The outer surface is a mottled reddish brown to orange colour (Pantone 7517C), while the interior is a matt yellowish brown (Pantone 7508C).
The bowl weighs 56.7 grams and measures 156 by 130 mm across the rim, has a height of 75 mm, and walls that are 2.3 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 1936.10.33-34. 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 1936.10.33-34. 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 - 1936.10.35 C [jewellers tag, with object but not fastened to it; the 'C' is in blue pencil; RTS 27/8/2004]
Written on object - Dairy-bowl, NUER, E. SUDAN. d.d. E. Evans-Pritchard. 1936 [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 - 1936.10.35 C [jewellers tag, with object but not fastened to it; the 'C' is in blue pencil; RTS 27/8/2004]
Written on object - Dairy-bowl, NUER, E. SUDAN. d.d. E. Evans-Pritchard. 1936 [RTS 27/8/2004].
