Ritual Healing Vessel (itinate)

Mwana people, or Cham people, Nigeria, African

19th-20th century

  • Titles Ritual Healing Vessel (itinate) (Descriptive)
  • Medium fired clay and slip
  • Dimensions 8 x 5 in. (20.3 x 12.7 cm)
  • Credit Line Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Dick Jemison Collection of African Pottery, AFI.420.2012
  • Work Type vessel
  • Classification Containers

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Round, dark brown vessel with glossy surface has short, curved rim. Three parallel incised lines mark shoulder, which has four pairs of upturned knob handles.
Wide, dark brown vessel with narrow mouth has short, flared lip and narrow base. Incised decorative patterns filled with white pigment include parallel bands around body of vessel, and opposing half circles on shoulder.
One of four staffs used to deliniate an area around a royal when he appears in public. Decorated with kneeling female figures with hands on breasts, alternated with knelling male drummers, at top birds and a python, below figures are quadrupeds, possibly goats, symbols of wealth.
Vertical grain container has flat bottom resting on short feet; top is rounded with short neck. Shoulder has appliqued parallel wavy lines with raised vertical bar.