Nupe Igbo Clay Terracotta Pot Water Container African SALE WAS 0.00

Description

Title
Nupe Igbo Clay Terracotta Pot Water Container African
Type of Object
Pottery, Vessel, Container
Country of Origin
Nigeria
People
Nupe or Igbo
Materials
Clay
Approximate Age
Unknown 20th Century
Height (in)
7.25
Width (in)
5
Depth (in)
4.5
Other Dimensions
Height: 7.25 Inches
Width: 5 Inches
Depth: 4.5 Inches
Overall Condition
Fair to good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.   Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use.  We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings.  Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.
Damage/Repair
Pitting and decoration loss
Additional Information:
A medium sized container made out of the clay decorated with face motifs in relief.   This pottery is identified as a Nupe vessel. The Igbo people have also produced similar vessels. This crafted clay vessel was served as a container for water or other beverage. It comes with its base made out of leaves.
Number about 350,000 the Nupe have along standing reputation as makers of fine pottery and ceramic objects. Since they are mostly Muslim, their vessels almost always feature lovely incised decoration, without human images. Exceptionally, this one has an abstract or schematic human face.This could be  seen as an influence from the Nupe neighbors or other groups from Nigeria such as the Tiv and the Ga'anda living in the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. The Tiv are a large group of more than one million people living in North-east Nigeria. They are famous for their wooden carvings as well as for their brass figures and their ceramics. Ritual vessels in the form of a head and these with a large open mouth were found in the Ga'anda territory, too. Without any field information on this example such attribution would remain hypothetical.
The artworks of the Nupe are highly respected, even though the variety of objects they produce is very small. The limited nature of Nupe art is due to the strict influence of Islam, which has controlled the social and religious life of the Nupe for at least 250 years. Muslim law forbids the use of art objects that possess human figural elements, considering them profane. The Nupe, unable to express themselves in such fashion, instead developed a magnificent ability to decorate utilitarian and marriage-related objects with intricate geometric incising and abstract features. They craft extraordinary carved calabashes and wooden bowls, fashion stunning terra cotta vessels and pipes, and weave exquisite, highly-prized textiles. Thus, the Nupe  are among the most superb potters of Africa. The popularity of Nupe art with serious collectors is a testament to their skills and their unique adaptability to social upheaval.
For more information
on African pottery and excellent examples of Nupe pots, see SMASHING POTS-WORKS OF CLAY FROM AFRICA by Nigel Barley.; Kathleen Bickford Berzock (ED.) FOR HEARTH AND ALTAR. African Ceramics from the Keith Archepohl Collection, Art Institute of Chicago, 2005; Perani, J.M. Nupe Crafts: The dynamics of Change in 19th century and 20th century Weaving and Brassworking, 1977; Stevens, P. Nupe Woodcarving, Nigeria, 1966; Arnulf Stossel, Nupe, Kakanda, Basa-Nge: Gefasskeramik aus Zentral-Nigeria, 1981;  Arnulf Stossel, Afrikanische Keramik, Traditionelle Handwerkskunst Sudlich Der Sahara, 1984; Leith-Ross, Sylvia, Nigerian Pottery, 1970.
**128969**
All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2021
Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers!
Please visit our About Us page.
Africa Direct, Inc. has been selling on eBay since 1997 and has received more than 56,000 positive feedbacks. It is owned by Eliza and Sara, who began the company after spending a year wandering southern Africa in a camper van with their multi-racial family. They have been honored with eBay's Hall of Fame award, and by eBay Giving Works, through which they have raised more than 5,000 in charity auctions.
Customer Service
: We treasure our many long term customers, and will try to make you one of them! If you have problems, please tell us... we care!
Handling Time
: We ship daily except Sundays and holidays. Most orders go out the same day, and all go out within 48 hours.
Returns
: We want you to be happy with your purchase. You're welcome to return an item within 30 days in the same condition you received it--just let us know you're returning it. You may have either a credit or a refund for your purchase price, not including shipping both ways. If your original payment was made through PayPal, we'll refund you through PayPal; if you paid us directly with your credit card, we'll refund the credit card.
Combining Shipping
: You are welcome to wait to pay, and to combine multiple items for shipping. We ask that you keep each order to 10 days or 10 items, whichever comes first--then start another order.
When you're ready, just send us a list of item numbers or an invoice request and we'll send you an invoice. You can pay by Paypal or credit card.
U.S. Shipping
: Our staff take great care in packing our artwork, much of which is antique, irregularly-shaped, and fragile. The cost of labor and the special packing materials used is reflected in our shipping price. Our U.S. shipping charges also include insurance; we self-insure on smaller orders. For these reasons, our shipping and handling charges may be more than the price of postage. .
International Shipping
: We ship dozens of international orders each week, to customers on every continent except Antarctica! The shipping charges included in our listings are for U.S. orders. Contact us for shipping charges to your country. We offer uninsured USPS First Class airmail, insured Priority airmail, and insured Express airmail to most parts of the world, depending on the weight, volume, and value of an item. We also ship via FedEx or DHL on request.
Import duties, taxes, and charges are NOT INCLUDED in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding / buying. These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up -- do not confuse them for additional shipping charges. And please do not ask us to mark merchandise values below the actual value or mark items as "gifts"--U.S. and International government regulations prohibit such behavior.
Newsletter, previews and special offers
: Sign up for our newsletter
Go to Africa Direct Store