Baganda Milk Jug with Native Repair

A crack, a patch, and a vessel that kept going.

This milk jug comes from the Baganda of Uganda, East Africa, and was made of wood in the 20th century. The record notes a native repair, and it is easy to find: a hammered aluminum patch sits in a U shape at the rim, covering the damaged lip. Milk vessels like this are commonly kept for dairy and are valued for years of use. The body is nearly black-brown, narrow and smooth, tapering gently toward the base.

About 16 inches tall. The repair is the best part of the story, and the jug doesn’t hide it.