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Storage Container

A work made of terracotta.

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  • A work made of terracotta.

Date:

19th/mid–20th century

Artist:

Kurumba
Burkina Faso
Northern Africa and the Sahel

About this artwork

These tall cylindrical storage containers are like miniature granaries in both form and function, and may be found lined up in rows in the kitchens of homes. They hold the life-sustaining grains—primarily millet, sorghum, and corn—that are grown in the short rainy season of the arid western Sahel region from June until September. Such vessels also safeguard personal valuables. This three-legged example is embellished with patterns that mimic traditional scarifications upon the belly of a Kurumba mother.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Kurumba

Title

Storage Container

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.

1800–1950

Medium

Terracotta

Dimensions

68 × 51.4 cm (26 3/4 × 20 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Keith Achepohl

Reference Number

2006.746

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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