Mossi Storage Vessel with Figural Motifs

A small head sits on the lid like a cork that learned to keep an eye on the room.

This storage vessel with figural motifs is Mossi, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the mid 20th century. It is wood. The Mossi are well known for their carving, and lidded containers were often used to keep valued goods safe within the household. The body is a tall, swelling ovoid with a deep reddish brown surface and darker patches. A figure in low relief, round headed with outstretched limbs, clings to one side. The domed lid rises to a small carved head, and a narrow foot sits below. It is 29.5 inches high and 12.5 wide.

Storage, with supervision built in.