Container
Nuna
1900–1950
- Medium
- Terracotta and slip
- Dimensions
- 86.4 × 34.3 × 39.4 cm (34 × 13 1/2 × 15 1/2 in.)
- Genre
- container
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Styles
Tags
Buffaloslipcoilingmodeling (forming)staffsvesselprosperityappliqué (technique)ceramicsNorthern Africa and the Sahelsnakescontainerafrican Artarts of Africanunafertilityceramicprotectorhand-modelingcontainersterracotta
About
The complex form of this tall and narrow storage vessel was constructed in several phases, starting with the base, which was textured with a roulette (a toothed disk), and followed by the foot. The upper half, culminating in the ribbed neck, was then built using a coiling technique. The lid was likely formed separately. The imagery on its surface includes tall staffs that may represent old iron currency; a snake; and a bush-buffalo head signifying prosperity, protection, and fertility.
