Art Institute of Chicago

Ritual Vessel

Inland Niger Delta region, Mali

Date

12th /17th century

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Mali

Department

Arts of Africa

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Research suggests that the ancient potters of Mali’s Inland Niger Delta region were at least part-time specialists and were women, as are the potters in the region today. It is likely that they created wares for domestic and ritual use, including figural sculptures in clay. This cylindrical vessel was likely made for ritual use considering the close attention to decorative detail that it displays and the relative rarity of flat-bottomed containers from the region. Delicately incised lines complement the raised and inset rings at the vessel’s neck and waist.

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