VINTAGE UKHAMBA RITUAL INCISED CLAY BEER VESSEL ZULU PEOPLE SOUTH AFRICA

Description

GJPaw
Auctions is pleased to offer a gorgeous Ukhamba or ritual beer vessel, from the Zulu people, South Africa.
The word ukhamba is a Zulu word for a large clay vessel and the term is commonly used by all African cultures. In Zulu, ukhamba consists of two words: ukukhama (which means to squeeze out or compress out as in milking a cow) + bamba (to hold in place so as to receive that which is squeezed out). In Zulu culture, the ukhamba is a vessel, a reservoir, and a protector of that which is valuable and good for physical and spiritual nourishment. It is a central piece in the rite of social fellowship and that rite itself is treated with respect and studied deference.
The clay pot is made out of earth, and symbolizes the Eternal Mother and womb from which all emerge and gets buried in order for others to emerge. The clay pot gives shape to its liquid contents and this means the shaping of all human knowledge by a lived life on earth. Ukhamba pots are formed by building up coils of clay and smoothing them down with items such as the back of a spoon or a water-worn rock. The pot is put to one side until it has reached leather-hardness, when incised designs are created using found objects such as maize cobs, sharpened bicycle or umbrella spokes, combs and anything else that will create an attractive pattern. This superb example measures 8 inches in diameter by 6 inches in height (20.3 cm by 15.2 cm).
It shows wear commensurate with use, including scratches and a chip on the rim, but generally is in very good condition, dating to the late 20th century. A fabulous collector’s item, coming from an important mid-West collection of African art, it is guaranteed authentic and would make a fine addition to any collection of Zulu art or African art in general.
GJPaw
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A1200-152