Dinka Wood Grain Bowl

Faceted like cut stone, glazed by years of hands. Small but dense.

Dinka people of Sudan, East Africa, carved this small grain bowl in wood in the 20th century. Everyday wooden vessels like this are commonly used in the Nile region for food and grain. The bowl is rounded and deep, with a thick lip and a dark glossy interior. The outside is cut in rows of shallow facets that catch the light in a quilted pattern. The wood is very dark brown, shading nearly to black, with a deeply polished, aged feel.

About 8 inches across and 2 and a half inches tall. The right size for keys, coins or contemplation.