Baganda Milk Jug with Native Repair

A crimped silver collar on a column of dark, polished wood.

Baganda makers of Uganda, East Africa, produced this wooden milk vessel in the 20th century, and the metal collar is a repair in aluminum. Wooden dairy vessels are commonly found in East African cattle country, often smoothed by years of handling. The slim body widens toward the base and is a very dark brown, nearly black. At the neck a band of hammered aluminum with a scalloped lower edge covers the damaged rim. Faint hammer marks pick up the light.

About 14 inches tall. A tailored little neckpiece, on a vessel that earned it.