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Vessel

A work made of calabash, animal hide, and glass and plastic beads.

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  • A work made of calabash, animal hide, and glass and plastic beads.

Date:

20th century

Artist:

Maasai
Kenya or Tanzania
Eastern and Southern Africa

About this artwork

The Maasai use locally grown calabashes, or gourds, in a variety of shapes and sizes as cups, bowls, or vessels. Pyro engravings (burnt on with an iron tool) and other incised designs are specific to a family or individual. These decorations are combined with hide straps, beads, and buttons to signal wealth and status; they also make it easier to locate one’s personal container when many are stacked together during communal events. This vessel features abstracted elephants and hoofprint designs.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Maasai

Title

Vessel

Place

Kenya (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.

1900–1999

Medium

Calabash, animal hide, and glass and plastic beads

Dimensions

96.6 × 11.5 × 16.6 cm (38 × 4 1/2 × 6 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of the Michael R. Mack Collection

Reference Number

2024.365

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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