Pottery & Terra-cotta
Made from the earth itself, clay bodies blend the physical and metaphysical.
These authentic objects embody stories that penetrate our soul, even before those stories are told.
Despite their humility, objects made of clay take us on a spiritual journey. Urbanization, political upheaval and war have made traditional objects like these disappear from everyday life. Many utilitarian pots are collected with little or no information about who made them, yet their signs of use reveal the rhythms of manual labor and the repetition of ritual that defined the lives of Africa’s indigenous peoples.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
3.5 x 7 x 7 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Memorial Portrait (Akan People, Republic of Ghana)
12 x 7 x 6 ″ Hand carved from terra-cotta, roots, and fragments of quartz.
Three Legged Cooking Vessel (Chamba People, Federal Republics of Nigeria and Cameroon).
15 x 10 x 10 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
8.5 x 10 x 10 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Three Legged Cooking Vessel (Chamba People, Federal Republics of Nigeria and Cameroon).
15 x 10 x 10 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Bottle (Teke People, Republic of the Congo)
11 x 8 x 8 ″ Hand crafted of terra-cotta clay.
Bottle (Teke People, Republic of the Congo)
9 x 7 x 5 ″ Hand crafted of terra-cotta clay.
Three Legged Cooking Vessel (Chamba People, Federal Republics of Nigeria and Cameroon).
14.5 x 9 x 9 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
8.5 x 10 x 10 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Three Legged Cooking Vessel (Chamba People, Federal Republics of Nigeria and Cameroon).
13.5 x 9 x 9 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Three Legged Cooking Vessel (Chamba People, Federal Republics of Nigeria and Cameroon).
15 x 9.5 x 9.5 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Ritual Pot: Beer Drinking and Fermentation Vessel (Dogon People, Mali)
16 x 14 x 14 ″ Hand molded from terra-cotta clay.
Bottle (Teke People, Republic of the Congo)
12 x 8 x 5 ″ Hand crafted of terra-cotta clay.
Three Legged Cooking Vessel (Chamba People, Federal Republics of Nigeria and Cameroon).
13.5 x 9 x 9 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
8 x 9 x 9 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Drinking Vessel (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
12 x 14 x 14 ″ Hand molded of clay with amasumpa and ukufusa; coil method construction.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
6.5 x 9 x 9 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Bushera Pot (Batwa People of the Republic of Burundi)
18 x 17 x 17 ″ Hand crafted from terra-cotta clay, employing coil method construction.
Three-Spouted Ritual Vessel (Mangbetu People, Republic of Congo)
10 x 12 x 12 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Bottle (Teke People, Republic of the Congo)
12 x 9 x 9 ″ Hand crafted of terra-cotta clay.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
9 x 11 x 11 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Bushera Pot (Batwa People, Republic of Burundi)
17 x 15 x 15 ″ Hand crafted from clay, employing coil method construction.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
7.5 x 8 x 8 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Bottle (Teke People, Republic of the Congo)
11 x 8 x 8 ″ Hand crafted of terra-cotta clay.
Bushera Pot (Batwa People Republic of Burundi)
16 x 16 x 16 ″ Hand crafted from terra-cotta clay, employing coil method construction.
Bushera Pot (Batwa People, Republic of Burundi)
17 x 18 x 18 ″ Hand crafted from terra-cotta clay, employing coil method construction.
Uphiso: Beer Transport and Drinking Vessel (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
14 x 10 x 10 ″ Hand molded of clay with amasumpa, ukufusa; wax finish; coil method construction.
Bushera Pot (Batwa People, Republic of Burundi)
18 x 15 x 15 ″ Hand crafted from terra-cotta clay, employing coil method construction.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
10 x 12.5 x 12.5 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Bushera Pot (Batwa People, Republic of Burundi)
18 x 16 x 16 ″ Hand crafted from terra-cotta clay, employing coil method construction.
Uphiso: Beer Transport and Drinking Vessel. (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
12 x 11 x 11 ″ Hand molded of clay with amasumpa, ukufusa: wax finish: coil method construction.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
10 x 13 x 3 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Wiiso: Ancestor Vessel (Ungur People, Federal Republic of Nigeria)
18 x 10 x 10 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Wiiso: Ancestor Vessel (Ungur People, Federal Republic of Nigeria)
18 x 10 x 10 ″ Hand molded from terra-cotta clay.
Uphiso: Bear Transport and Drinking Vessel (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
13 x 13 x 13 ″ Hand molded of clay with amasumpa, ukufusa; wax finish; coil method construction.
Incised Pot (Senufo People, Ivory Coast)
16 x 14 x 14 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Nsodie: Memorial Portrait (Akan People, Republic of Ghana)
16 x 12.5 x 7.5 ″ Hand carved from terra-cotta, roots, and fragments of quartz.
Nine-Spouted Ritual Vessel (Mangbetu People, Republic of Congo)
10 x 16 x 16 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Nsodie: Memorial Portrait (Akan People, Republic of Ghana)
16 x 14 x 5 ″ Hand carved from terra-cotta, roots, and fragments of quartz.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
11.5 x 12 x 12 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
V-Shaped Beer Drinking Vessel (Jabu Nala, Zulu People, Southern Africa)
13.5 x 11 x 7 ″ Hand molded from terra-cotta clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish: coil method construction.
Nsodie: Memorial Portrait (Akan People, Republic of Ghana)
Hand carved from terra-cotta, roots, and fragments of quartz.
Bushera Pot (Batwa People of the Republic of Burundi)
19 x 17 x 17 ″ Hand crafted from terra-cotta clay, employing coil method construction.
V-Shaped Beer Drinking Vessel (Jabu Nala, Zulu People, Southern Africa)
16 x 10.5 x 10.5 ″ Hand molded from terra-cotta clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish: coil method construction.
Ritual Vessel (Matakam People, Chad)
19 x 13 x 13 ″ Hand crafted from terra-cotta clay.
Memorial Portrait (Akan People, Republic of Ghana)
11 x 7 x 5 ″ Hand carved from terra-cotta, roots, and fragments of quartz.
Memorial Portrait (Akan People, Republic of Ghana)
11 x 8 x 5 ″ Hand carved from terra-cotta, roots, and fragments of quartz.
Nsodie: Memorial Portrait (Akan People, Republic of Ghana)
16 x 7 x 7 ″ Hand carved from terra-cotta, roots, and fragments of quartz.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
10 x 11 x 11 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Ritual Drinking Vessel (Matakam People, Republic of Chad)
18.5 x 13 x 13 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
15 x 14 x 14 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Bottle (Zande People, Republic of Congo)
13.5 x 10 x 10 ″ Hand crafted of terra-cotta clay.
Ritual Pot: Beer Drinking and Fermentation Vessel (Lobi People, Burkina Faso)
17 x 17.5 x 17.5 ″ Hand molded from terra-cotta clay.
Water Pot (Nupe People, Federal Republic of Nigeria)
22 x 19 x 19 ″ Hand crafted of terra-cotta clay.
Memorial Portrait (Akan People, Republic of Ghana)
14 x 8 x 9 ″ Hand carved from terra-cotta, roots, and fragments of quartz.
Ritual Pot: Beer Drinking and Fermentation Vessel (Lobi People, Burkina Faso)
22 x 17.5 x 17.5 ″ Hand molded from terra-cotta clay.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
12 x 15 x 15 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Water Pot (Nupe People, Federal Republic of Nigeria)
21 x 20 x 20 ″ Hand crafted of terra-cotta clay.
Three Spouted Vessel
18 x 18.5 x 18.5 ″ Terra-cotta, clay | Handcrafted without the use of wheel utilizing molding techniques and their methods has been passed down through generations.
Memorial Portrait (Akan People, Republic of Ghana)
Hand carved from terra-cotta, roots, and fragments of quartz.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
14 x 19 x 19 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Water Pot (Nupe People, Federal Republic of Nigeria)
23 x 25 x 25 ″ Hand crafted of terra-cotta clay.
Storage Pot with Concentric Circles (Bamana People, Republic of Mali).
19 x 16 x 15 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
15 x 18.5 x 18.5 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
14.5 x 18.5 x 18.5 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Drinking Vessel (Teso People, Republic of Uganda)
21 x 17 x 17 ″ Hand molded from terra-cotta clay.
Storage Pot (Bamana People, Republic of Mali)
18 x 14 x 14 ″ Hand crafted of terra-cotta clay.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
12 x 15.5 x 15.5 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Anthropomorphic Wine and Medicine Vessel (Mangbetu People, Republic of Congo).
24.5 x 22 x 22 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Anthropomorphic Wine and Medicine Vessel (Mangbetu People, Republic of Congo).
28 x 17.5 x 17.5 ″ Hand molded from terra-cotta clay.
Uphiso: Beer Drinking Vessel (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
13 x 14 x 14 ″ Hand molded of clay with amasumpa, ukufusa; wax finish; coil method construction,
Uphiso: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
13.5 x 12 x 12 ″ Hand molded of clay with amasumpa, ukufusa; wax finish; coil method construction,
Ukhamba: Zulu Royal Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
16 x 21 x 21 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
10.5 x 16 x 16 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Ritual Vessel (Yoruba People, Federal Republic of Nigeria)
47 x 11 x 11 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
14 x 16.5 x 16.5 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.
Ekiggwa Shrine Vessel (Baganda People, Republic of Uganda)
23.5 x 19.5 x 19.5 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Osun: Shrine Figure (Yoruba People, Federal Republic of Nigeria)
19 x 11 x 11 ″ Hand crafted of terra cotta clay, employing coil method construction.
Osun: Shrine Figure (Yoruba People, Federal Republic of Nigeria)
18.5 x 11.5 x 11.5 ″ Hand crafted of terra cotta clay, employing coil method construction.
Ekiggwa Shrine Vessel (Bagandan People, Republic of Uganda)
23.5 x 19.5 x 19.5 ″ Hand molded of terra-cotta clay.
Ukhamba: Beer Drinking Pot (Zulu People, Southern Africa)
15.5 x 19 x 19 ″ Hand crafted from clay, with amasumpa, ukufusa and wax finish; coil method construction.