Nupe Water Vessel

The Nupe people of Nigeria were touted as some of the finest ceramicists in Africa and even everyday objects like this water vessel received detailed attention. The form and glaze of the vessel's lip marks it as an early example of their Nupe ceramics. This pot's creator left off traditional incised decoration on the vessel's exterior, instead choosing to groove out bands on the interior of the lip. This creates a simplified, sculptural form that is smooth to the touch.