Water Jar (jidaga)

Bamana people, Mali, African

Mid 20th century

  • Titles Water Jar (jidaga) (Descriptive)
  • Artist Bamana people, Mali
  • Medium fired clay and slip
  • Dimensions 23 1/4 x 20 in. Diam. (59.1 x 50.8 cm)
  • Credit Line Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Dick Jemison Collection of African Pottery, AFI.199.2012
  • Work Type jar
  • Classification Containers

See More of the Collection

Oil Jug, Kuba group, Democratic Republic of the Congo, African, fired clay and slip
Mbulu Ngulu
Standing male power figure with bent arms resting on distended abdomen; below abdomen, figure is unarticulated block, partially covered by animal skin and waist ornaments (large bell and metal jangles attached to cord). Animal horn emerges vertically from top of head. Face has slitted, bulbous eyes, broad nose, protruding and slightly upturned open mouth, square beard. Necklace of glass beads, animal teeth, seed pods hangs from neck onto abdomen. Umbilical area has opening where medicinal materials once existed.
Blackish-brown glossy vessel has round bottom and slopes inward toward mouth in rounded tiers. Body has incised bands, some filled with herringbone pattern, concentric arcs, and sections of parallel vertical lines.