Nupe Ceramic Storage Vessel

Lighter in color, heavier on pattern, and scored all over below.

Nupe potters of Nigeria, West Africa, made this terra cotta storage vessel in the 19th century. Tall jars of this kind were commonly used for water and grain. A banded shoulder carries bold incised arches and zigzags beneath a collared rim. The lower body is marked with fine, scratched lines and tapers toward a small footed base. The clay has the look of terracotta and cinnamon, mottled with deeper brown and pale scuffs, and the whole piece shows honest handling.

About 22 inches tall and 18 wide, the tallest of its family. Floor-standing and unfussy.