Multi-Lidded Vessel
At the turn of the twentieth century, vessels decorated with zoomorphic or geometric handles became the decorative art form in Western collections that epitomized Lozi culture. The design of this sophisticated example incorporates two stacked bowls: the lid of the large round bowl on the bottom serves as a base for the smaller oval bowl, itself topped with a lid decorated by a geometric handle. The trapezoid shape of the latter symbolizes the palace of the king, a theme frequently depicted on Lozi bowls. The motif, in use for at least a century, remains popular to this day. Such wood vessels served as receptacles for keeping food warm. The larger bowl in this example held buhobe, the staple starch, and the oval bowl at the top was for a stew known as busunsu.
Artwork Details
- Title: Multi-Lidded Vessel
- Date: early to mid-20th century
- Geography: Zambia, Western Zambia
- Culture: Lozi peoples
- Medium: Wood
- Dimensions: H. 12 1/4 x Diam. 9 3/4 in. (31.1 x 24.8 cm)
- Classification: Wood-Containers
- Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1964
- Object Number: 1978.412.344a-d
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Mncane Zinindeli Nzuza
ca. 1980
Nyoro or Ganda artist
early to mid–twentieth century
Nyoro or Ganda artist
early to mid-twentieth century
Nyoro or Ganda artist
early to mid-twentieth century
Mangbetu artist
First half of 20th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.