Nupe Ceramic Storage Vessel

Triangles in red and black circle the belly like a ring of kites.

Nupe potters of Nigeria, West Africa, made this storage vessel in terra cotta in the 19th century. Painted clay vessels are commonly used in the region to hold water, grain and household supplies. A round, full body rises to a narrow waist and a wide, shallow cup of a mouth. Bands of diamonds and triangles, drawn in black and filled with ochre and red pigment, circle the shoulder, with finely scored lines below. The surface is warm and slightly matte.

About 16 inches tall. It brightens a shelf without raising its voice.