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Container, Lid, D61.171

Physical Description

Metal (tin/iron) container and lid. Each completely covered on outside with red leather (goat/sheep?). Leather is likely glued to container/lid. Leather on container appears to be of two pieces. 1st piece tightly bound to container bottom/base. 2nd and larger piece appears to be tightly wrapped around circumference of container - including over top lip - with two ends of same piece having ends pulled together directly over seam of metal container and tightly stitched from top to bottom/base of container. Approximately half way up/down the container a decoration approx. 12mm wide runs the full circumference of the container. Decoration of geometric forms appears to made by a weave of white plant(?) fibre delicately woven through very small slices in the leather. Geometric centre portions of decoration appear to be where leather has been dyed/stained black. Pattern impression is of parallel white rows (9) running horizontally around circumference routinely interspersed with flecks of red leather and centres of black leather. A ridge each immediately above base and one immediately below lip may have been applied by artist or part of the original tin? Top lip of lid has been stained/dyed black. Overall impression is of a container highly embellished by an accomplished artisan and perhaps slightly utilized.

Research Notes

"Africa Collection File" by "Sarah Brodie" says "Hausa" . Also says "Pres. Miss McDouall, Box 39 Oamaru [relation of G.W. McDonall? seeD57.92]".

Sub-Sahara, West Africa, (Nigeria/Ghana?)

Leather work of this type is frequently found among subSaharan groups - particularly Hausa of West Africa (northern Nigeria, Ghana).

Metal (tin/iron), leather, and plant(?) fibre.

? General container?

Metal (tin/iron) container and lid. Each completely covered on outside with red leather (goat/sheep?). Leather is likely glued to container/lid. Leather on container appears to be of two pieces. 1st piece tightly bound to container bottom/base. 2nd and larger piece appears to be tightly wrapped around circumference of container - including over top lip - with two ends of same piece having ends pulled together directly over seam of metal container and tightly stitched from top to bottom/base of container. Approximately half way up/down the container a decoration approx. 12mm wide runs the full circumference of the container. Decoration of geometric forms appears to made by a weave of white plant(?) fibre delicately woven through very small slices in the leather. Geometric centre portions of decoration appear to be where leather has been dyed/stained black. Pattern impression is of parallel white rows (9) running horizontally around circumference routinely interspersed with flecks of red leather and centres of black leather. A ridge each immediately above base and one immediately below lip may have been applied by artist or part of the original tin? Top lip of lid has been stained/dyed black. Overall impression is of a container highly embellished by an accomplished artisan and perhaps slightly utilized.

Height with lid = approx. 90.4mm. Diameter at extreme base = approx. 104.5mm. —Joel A Vanderburg

Provenance

?Locality

Measurements

Maximum dimensions (H x W x D): 90 x 106 x 106mm

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