Tuareg Wood Bowl

A deep, dark bowl, striped with thin lines the color of tea.

This bowl is Tuareg, from Mali, West or North Africa, and dates to the 20th century, in wood. The Tuareg are widely known as nomadic pastoralists of the Sahara, and carved wooden bowls are generally used for milk, food and household needs. This one is wide and deep, with a thick rim and a rounded base. The exterior is blackened and smooth, and incised lines run around it in two bands, their light wood showing as copper-colored stripes. Tool marks are visible on the lower body. It is 6.75 inches high and 12.25 in diameter.

Plain in the best way, with stripes for emphasis.