Lidded Bowl
Not on view
Grassfields potters from the Ndop Plain make a variety of small bowls for warming and serving stew, a staple dish that is part of almost every meal. Until recently all men and women owned such a bowl, which could vary in form from simple to ostentatious depending on the rank and wealth of the owner. This example presents elaborate ornaments, such as a raised openwork pdestal, a lid, and representational imagery. While some of these additions are functionnal (the stand helps with stability, the handle allowed the bowl to be hung when not in use, the spout-like knob helps with the support of the bowl when filled), the surface patterning and complex openwork are added for sheer visual pleasure and allude to motif symbolism common throughout the Grassfields.
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