Figurative vessel

early to mid-twentieth century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 344

With two firmly planted feet, wide hips, convex torso, and arched arms, the rounded forms of this dynamic vessel evoke a human body. It belongs to a small corpus of highly sculptural receptacles produced by a ceramics workshop located near the confluence of the Congo and Ubangi rivers. Responding keenly to market demand, the artisans likely developed the anthropomorphic format of their creations with a European audience in mind. Early twentieth-century Mangbetu and Zande artisans similarly adapted their style to accommodate foreign tastes. The master potter of this work carefully balanced female and male elements through the modeling of feminine proportions and the addition of a phallic summit.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Figurative vessel
Artist: Teke or Lari artist
Date: early to mid-twentieth century
Geography: Democratic Republic of Congo, Bandundu or Likoula province
Culture: Teke or Lari peoples
Medium: Terracotta
Dimensions: H. 9 7/16 in. (H. 24 cm.)
Classification: Ceramics-Vessels
Credit Line: Purchase, The Naddisy Foundation Gift, 2025
Object Number: 2025.90
Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

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