Nuer bowl
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1936.10.34
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Nuer
Date Made:
By 1936
Materials:
Gourd Plant , Plant Fibre
Process:
Hollowed , Dried , Repaired (local)
Dimensions:
L rim = 150, W rim = 119, Ht = 80 mm, th walls = 3 mm [RTS 25/8/2004].
Weight:
61.5 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 it is not quite circular, with a swollen knob on one side of the rim and a slightly depressed area on the rim edge opposite.
There is a hairline crack running down from the rim to the base on one side; this has been mended locally by placing pairs of holes on either side of the broken edge, and running a thin twisted cord through these in a series of stitches that stretch horizontally across the interior surface, but cross each other obliquely down the outside face.
Although this cord has a greasy surface, particularly on the exterior, on consultation with conservation it would seem to be made of plant fibre rather than sinew; this is a light yellowish brown colour (Pantone 7507C).
The object is complete, and has a weight of 61.5 grams.
The outer surface is a reddish brown to orange colour (Pantone 470C), while the interior is a lighter yellowish brown (Pantone 7509C).
It measures 150 by 119 mm across the rim, has a height of 80 mm and walls that are 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 and 1936.10.35. 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 1936.10.33 and 1936.10.35. 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].
Written on object - NUER 1936.10.34 dd E.P. [on interior] IV [on exterior] [RTS 25/8/2004].
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].
Written on object - NUER 1936.10.34 dd E.P. [on interior] IV [on exterior] [RTS 25/8/2004].
