Ritual Pot: Beer Drinking and Fermentation Vessel (Songye People, Congo)

Description

This lyrically decorated vessel is hand crafted from terracotta clay by the Songye People of the Republic of Congo. It features a protruding lip and beveled rings, alternating with a series of striated arcs and triangles, which loosely resemble waves of water and mountains. Small vessels such as this are prevalent throughout Central Africa, and are designed to contain liquids such as beer, oil, water or palm wine. These pieces are additionally employed to honor one’s ancestors ritualistically, or to place on appropriate shrines.