H x W x D: 77.8 x 38.1 x 24.0 cm (30 5/8 x 15 x 9 7/16 in.)
Type:
Ceramics
Geography:
Kabylie, Algeria
Date:
Early-late 20th century
Label Text:
The inhabitants of the mountainous Kabyle region along the Mediterranean coast in northeastern Algeria are farmers primarily. They are also superb artists noted for their jewelry, textiles, mats, basketry, pottery and house murals.
In North Africa, wheel-thrown pottery, which is made by men, dates from the 7th century B.C. when the Phoenicians introduced the potter's wheel to the Algerian coast. Handbuilt pottery, which is made by women, is an older, probably indigenous tradition that dates back 2000 years before the birth of Christ.
To this day, Kabyle women coil and decorate pottery with beautiful, geometric designs for their own household use and for sale. Kabyle women handbuild vessels of various sizes and shapes for holding water, milk and oil, for cooking and eating food and for making oil lamps.
Probably used to store oil, this Kabyle jar was covered with painted designs to enhance its beauty and protect the owner and its contents. The foot supports and stabilizes the vessel when it is leaned against a wall.
Description:
This vessel has a wide belly, and a tall neck with a wide bottom and tapering top. A supporting stem projects out from the bottom. Two wing shaped handles are attached at the sides. The vessel's neck, belly, handles and stem are covered with red colored slip. There are registers of triangle motifs against neutral and red colored backgrounds on the neck and belly.
Provenance:
Collected near Tiziouzou, Kabyle, Algeria, ca. 1971
Allen C. Davis, Alexandria, Virginia, ca. 1971 to 1999
Exhibition History:
Beautiful Bodies: Form and Decoration of African Pottery, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., May 6, 2001-January 6, 2002
Published References:
National Museum of African Art. 2007. 2007-2008 School Calendar: Featuring the new Let's Read about Africa and the Sounds of African Music programs. Museum calendar. Washington, D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, December 2007.
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