mukeke

Object Details

Lozi artist

Description

Deep round bowl with lid upon which a proportionately large leopard has been carved. The base of the bowl is rounded, as are the sides. The bowl is predominately pyro-darkened or stained wood, but double rows of elongated and horizontally-oriented triangles in lighter word adorn the sides. The bowl’s lid is stained dark and deeply convex. The leopard carved upon it seems to emerge directly from its dome with thick legs emerging like trunks. The leopard is positioned slightly off center but its striped tail curves around the lid of the bowl. The leopard is predominately lighter, or unstained wood, with pyro-incised spots but its legs have been stained or darkened to a shade darker than the lid but lighter than the rest of the animal.

Provenance

Private collector Gordon Crawford bought the bowl in England from the auction house Adam Partridge, Cheshire Salesroom, located at Withyfold Drive, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK 10 2BD on 16th October 2015, as part of a deceased estate. The owners were apparently a renowned couple of collectors of art - especially ceramic art. (The entire auction was to dispose of their art collection.). Senior Curator Karen E.Milbourne has communicated with the Ngambela (Prime Minister) of the Barotse Royal Establishment who has confirmed that there is no policy for the return of these artworks that were frequently sold or gifted as ambassadors of Barotseland since the late 19th century.

Content Statement

As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.

Image Requests

High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/

Credit Line

Museum Purchase

1886-1916

Object number

2021-6-3

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Sculpture

Medium

Wood (likely teak)

Dimensions

H x W x D: 30.5 × 34.3 × 34.3 cm, 2.9 kg (12 × 13 1/2 × 13 1/2 in., 6.5 lb.)

Geography

Western Province, Zambia

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Topic

leopard

Household

geometric motif

Trade

Record ID

nmafa_2021-6-3

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys72aba0ad2-7f17-4891-aca7-8dc5dcb61726