Djenne Ceramic Vessel, Mali

Ridges on the neck, a rope of tiny knots at the collar, and a belly as round as a gourd.

This vessel is Djenne, from Mali, West Africa, and dates to the 12th to 17th century, in terra cotta. The Djenne region is known for its terra cotta, and pottery from the inland Niger delta is often richly textured. This pot has a plump, rounded body that narrows to a short, banded neck. Fine ridges encircle the neck and shoulders, and a twisted rope pattern runs around the collar. A small bump marks the shoulder. The clay is a warm orange-brown and slightly mottled. It is 7.5 inches high and 6 in diameter.

Round, ribbed, and old enough to have earned both.