Vessel with Stylized Spider Motif

Unknown

20th century · Terracotta · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

This mid-sized vessel was probably used either as a man's wash basin or a serving bowl. Possibly created in Babessi, on the Ndop Plain, a center of ceramic production extensively studied by anthropologist and curator Silvia Forni, such vessels might have originally held ritual significance. Today, their meaning has been broadened to take on a wider range of meaning as symbols of a greater social identity. The stylized spider motif represents a house-spider and is associated with notions of generosity.

Artist

Unknown

Date

20th century

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Bamileke or Bamum

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Gift of Eve Glasberg and Amyas Naegele, 2013