Djenne Ceramic Fetish Vessel

A rough little jar in the shape of an egg, with a hat and a hint of a face.

This fetish vessel is Djenne, from the Sanga area, Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 16th to 18th century, in terra cotta. Djenne ceramics are widely known for their textured surfaces, and many vessels from the region are described as ritual, though scholars tread carefully on specifics. This one has an egg-shaped body that narrows to a short, flat-brimmed collar topped with a pointed cap. The surface is covered in fine, impressed lines in a vertical pattern, with a few raised bumps along the front. A small hole pierces one side. It is 6.5 inches high and 4.4 in diameter.

Hat on, lips sealed.