Skip to Content
Today Open today 10–11 members | 11–5 public

Shea Butter Jar (Bwéeru or Wéké Gumgia)

A work made of terracotta.

Image actions

  • A work made of terracotta.

Date:

Early/mid–20th century

Artist:

Baatonu (Bariba)
Republic of Benin
Coastal West Africa

About this artwork

The snakes, crocodiles and lizards that embellish this jar have an improvisational quality that is akin to the immediacy of gesture drawing. The jar’s yellowish color suggests it was used to store shea butter, which seeps through the porous walls of a terracotta vessel over time, permanently discoloring it. With its multiple domestic uses, including as an ingredient in cooking and medicine and as lamp fuel, shea butter is an ideal symbol of plenty. Baatombu mothers commission jars like this to give to their daughters upon their marriage, filled with shea butter. The animals on this example probably represent the protective spirits of the owner’s family. [See also 2002.265, 2005.240, and 2005.271].

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Bargu

Title

Shea Butter Jar (Bwéeru or Wéké Gumgia)

Place

Benin (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 1900–1975

Medium

Terracotta

Dimensions

27.9 × 30.5 cm (11 × 12 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Keith Achepohl

Reference Number

2005.272

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.

Share

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.

Learn more

Image actions

Share