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Storage Container

A work made of terracotta and slip.

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  • A work made of terracotta and slip.

Date:

Early/mid–20th century

Artist:

Nuna
Burkina Faso
Northern Africa and the Sahel

About this artwork

Massive, wide-mouthed storage containers—some up to five feet in diameter—are made across a wide region of Mali, Burkina Faso, and northern Ghana. Too big to move easily, these huge pots must be fired individually. Women use the vessels for a variety of household purposes, principally the germinating of millet or guinea corn to make beer. Such containers can also be used to store beer, water, or personal possessions. The enigmatic imagery on this thick-rimmed example includes three staffs (probably denoting an old form of metal currency), an arrow-shaped motif (perhaps symbolizing women), and a water buffalo head or mask

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Nuna

Title

Storage Container

Place

Burkina Faso (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1900–1950

Medium

Terracotta and slip

Dimensions

73.7 × 96.5 cm (29 × 38 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Keith Achepohl

Reference Number

2005.227

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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