Early 20th Century African Milk Vessel Uganda Hima Ekyanzi

About the Item

An incredibly unique wooden vessel carved from a single piece of wood in Uganda. The shape, design and decorative nature of this piece separates from anything else you will find. The aluminum emblems melted down and pounded into the vase are one of a kind, beautiful and of course functional. It's provided an important necessity to the Hima tribes in Uganda and as you can see has been cared for with all the attempts to fill in the cracks with metal to have it be functional once more. It is an incredible example of craftsmanship and as an object it is closer to a sculpture than to a vase like vessel - but perhaps in your home it is both. For many tribes in Central Africa including the Bembe, Hima and Tutsi, cattle herding was an essential aspect of life. The animals provided transport, agricultural necessities, income and food. Their milk was especially important as a source of nutrition. They were collected in wooden vessels, cylindrical in shape among the Bembe and Tutsi; the Hima crafted them with a slightly flared base called Ekyanzi. This flared out bottom, concave like form allows the vessel to sit flat while also proving it very difficult to tip over... for it rolls up on the side of the wooden vase. An incredible use of ingenuity by the Hima people. The walls of the vessels were made as thin as possible to allow maximum storage, making them valuable objects that were well worth fixing when damaged. Fissures were repaired with small tabs of recycled aluminum in a zipper-like pattern while larger cracks and holes were covered with elegantly shaped sheets. The piece has been fixed from the inside allowing the vase to comfortably hold water or whatever liquid you had in mind.

Dimensions:

Height: 9.06 in (23 cm)Diameter: 8.27 in (21 cm)

Materials and Techniques:

Aluminum,Hardwood,Hand-Carved,Hand-Crafted

Place of Origin:

Uganda

Period:

Early 20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

Circa 1920's

Condition:

Repaired: I have repaired the vessel from the insides with clear epoxy so the piece can functionally hold water as can act as a vase if desired. Wear consistent with age and use.

Seller Location:

Vancouver, CA

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU9387238034172

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