Vessel with Lid

Gurunsi people, African

Mid to late 20th century

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Gold Weight in the Form of an Axe or Hatchet, Asante people or, Baule people, Akan group, Ghana or, Côte d'Ivoire, African, brass
Vessel cover dedicated to the river god, Erinle. Such vessels were used to hold "moving water" from rivers or the sea, but not from wells, Every sixteen days the water is renewed together with two stones taken from a river as symbols of Erinle. The stones are also considered analogous to embryos in the womb. Surmounted by a male figure with his arms around a bowl on a potstand, a salamander or other river animal is behind him, and ritual implements surround him.
Mask, Guro people, Côte d'Ivoire, African, wood and pigment
Globular footed vessel with columnar neck and slightly flared rim has areas of glossy burnished surface and matte surface. Raised flat bands define registers. Patterns within the bands include repeating V-shapes, incised circles, diagonal lines, and impressed shapes.