This refined anthropomorphic vessel is a remarkable example of the eagerness with which many African groups decorate secular objects with socially relevant and aesthetically pleasing motifs. Some such vessels – including those made by the Azande – are designed for ritual purposes, and their usage is curtailed by the often bizarre way the pieces are constructed. In the current case, the piece is usable, and has merely had the exquisitely-rendered head of a woman integrated into the spout and neck design. The pattern of the base is a flat pedestal, rising sharply to the vessel’s widest point then thinning to a small neck, upon which the head is mounted. The face is demure and placid, with a long nose, small eyes and thin lips; the brow is defined by a band which runs from the level of the ears up to a peak on the forehead. Behind this, the hair is very ornately designed in crests that run from front to back.
This piece could have been made by one of several African groups. Because it is technically a secular item, the potter would have had more free rein to create as s/he willed rather than following the more limited strictures of religious iconography. However, this lack of standardization also serves to frustrate attempts to identify the exact origin of pieces collected in earlier periods. This is probably an Azande piece, but also has characters of various other groups as well. Fortunately, the sheer style and grace of this piece makes the technicalities of attribution irrelevant.
This is a charming and elegant piece of African art.