Object Details
- Label Text
- Northeastern Nigeria is a center of production for elaborately decorated gourds that are used as household storage containers and food and beverage bowls. The technique used on the exterior of this milk bowl is pressure engraving, a method used by the pastoral Fulbe that involves scraping a design into the surface with an iron needle, and then filling the incised areas with a mixture of butter and soot. The surface wear on this bowl indicates that it has seen considerable use; it held milk being taken to market.
- Description
- Hemispherical gourd bowl, plain bottom, sides engraved with tiny figures and geometric designs that are blackened with soot.
- Provenance
- Mildred A. Morton, Falls Church, Virginia, collected between Numan and Yola, Nigeria, 1973 to 2000
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Maker
- Fulbe artist
- Date
- Late 20th century
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mildred A. Morton
- Medium
- Gourd
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 17.6 x 37.5 x 35.5 cm (6 15/16 x 14 3/4 x 14 in.)
- Type
- Sculpture
