
<p>Pottery holds an important place in life across Cameroon. Throughout the mountains and grasslands of the country, large storage containers and smaller serving vessels are employed in the ritualized tradition of making and pouring beer and palm wine. This vessel has generous proportions, with a wide, flared lip and delicate incised details on its bottom sections. The vessel was most likely used to hold liquids in order to keep them cool before serving. The bottom portion of the vessel has an even, roulette-impressed pattern, and the middle section is defined by a subtle design of angled lines separated into three rows, over which additive elements are arranged. The angularity and tack-like additions on this middle section add an element of dynamism to the vessel’s relative simplicity.</p>
Catalogue
- Year
- 1925
- Medium
- Ceramic
- Dimensions
- 38 × 40 cm (15 × 15 3/4 in.)
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Artist
- Bamileke
Artist

Drawing
The Bamileke languages are a group of Eastern Grassfields languages spoken by the Bamileke people in the Western High Plateau of Cameroon.
Full artist profile →More
More by Bamileke
Man’s Hat (Ntamp)
1925 · Wool, fiber, and pigment
Portrait Figure of Metang, the 10th King of Batufam
1912 · Wood and pigment with traces of chalk and camwood
Portrait Figure of Metang, the 10th King of Batufam
1912 · Wood and pigment with traces of chalk and camwood
Dance Hat
1901 · Wool, rattan, and human hair
Headdress
1901 · Raffia and porcupine quills
Prestige Cap
1901 · Cotton, wool, and pigment
Record
Verified by WattsOSSource
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Source
- aic
- Reference
- View at source
- Status
- verified




