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Double Altar Vessel

A work made of terracotta.

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  • A work made of terracotta.

Date:

Early/mid–20th century

Artist:

Gur-speaking peoples, possibly Lobi
Burkina Faso
Northern Africa and the Sahel

About this artwork

The Lobi make double pots to aid in the treatment of ailing twins. The birth of twins is considered a blessing, and when they become ill it is diagnosed as a supernatural concern that must be addressed to the protective spirit of the father’s family. The relatives commission a double pot, which is placed on the father’s alar and contains a specially brewed medicine that is used to bathe the twins. According to Klaus Schneider, who has conducted an extensive study of Lobi pottery, double pots are always made with rounded bottoms and without figural embellishment. This double vessel has a flat bottom and flat lids, and is embellished with a male figure on one pot and a female figure on the other, suggesting that it may come from a closely related, but stylistically independent, tradition.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Gur

Title

Double Altar Vessel

Place

Burkina Faso (Object made for)

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.

1900–1975

Medium

Terracotta

Dimensions

25.4 × 40.6 cm (10 × 16 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Keith Achepohl

Reference Number

2006.744

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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