This terra cotta vessel is from the Djenne-Djeno area of Mali, circa 1400. The people in Mali from whom we obtained this say that it is "excavated", which means that it was buried for most of the last several hundred years. We can only guess the circumstances under which it was originally buried. We know that pottery of this type was often buried together with individuals; most often they would have contained items of value to the deceased. In fact, the reason this jar was dug up was because the person digging believed he would find objects of value in it, not because he wanted the vessel itself. Indeed, if this vessel did yield such material we have no way of knowing.

This object is in excellent condition, a gorgeous example of the genre.

23″ (58 cm) tall x 14" (36 cm) circumference