Fulani Incised Bowl

This carefully incised wooden bowl originally belonged to a Fulani family, a Muslim culture scattered throughout West Africa. Because the Fulani are frequently nomadic, they rely on neighboring cultures for the production of many of their objects. This bowl bears design motifs found in Tuareg bazawat bowls, although such geometric patterns are common in Fulani objects. A large crack down the middle of the bowl has been closed with old repairs, reflecting the Fulani preference to preserve valued objects rather than replace them. The delicately chiseled patterning adds subtle decoration and texture to the bowl, now cloaked in a rich patina from a century of use.