Djenne Ceramic Vessel, Mali

A tall orange cup with a ragged rim, worn down to bare clay on its sides.

This vessel is Djenne, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 12th to 17th century. It is terra cotta. Djenne ceramics from the inland Niger Delta generally include a wide range of everyday vessels and some sculptural work. This one is a deep, rounded cup with a flared mouth, with an uneven, chipped lip. The surface is a bright orange red, patched with pale buff where it has worn, and dotted with dark speckles. It is 8 inches high and 5.5 in diameter.

It has been through some things, and it shows.