Malian Ceramic Vessel

A round belly, a slim neck and a flared cap of a mouth, as if the jar had put on a small hat.

This vessel is from the Djenne people of Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century, in terra cotta. Djenne, on the inland Niger delta, has a long pottery tradition, with vessels usually built by hand and fired in the open. The globular body rises to a narrow, ringed neck incised with fine lines and a band of zigzags. At the top, a flared, collar-like mouth is edged with a notched rim. Worn red slip gives the surface a mottled look. It is 18 inches high and 10 in diameter.

Built for water, dressed for company.