Lot 84, Auction 4/20/2026: Three Djenne Mali Redware Pottery Vessels

$520.00

In stock

Western Africa, Mali, Middle Niger Civilization / Djenne, ca. 19th century CE or earlier. A trio of redware pottery vessels, each with a rounded, bulbous body and a tapering neck rising from a narrow shoulder. The largest vessel features an incised crosshatched band encircling the shoulder, while both the largest and the mid-sized examples display incised rings at the neck. Their rounded bases suggest use with ring stands or placement in soft ground, consistent with traditional storage practices. Such jars served domestic needs including the storage of water, grains, or oils, and at times held ceremonial significance within household and community contexts. Djenne and the broader Middle Niger region formed a major center of trans-Saharan trade and cultural exchange, and are celebrated for a ceramic tradition that extends back to at least the first millennium BCE. Size: 14″ L x 7.5″ W (35.6 cm x 19 cm)

Condition: Largest vessel is repaired with neck reattached. Midsized vessel is repaired from many pieces with modern infill visible along breaklines and gaps. Loss to rim on smallest vessel.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; smallest two: ex-private Los Angeles, California, USA collection; ex-major gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, primarily acquired between 1985 and 2005

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