Vessel c. 20th century

This Vessel was made by the Bamileke people, but we don’t know when, or even what it was made of. That’s ok, though, because sometimes the mystery is the point. I really get a sense of the maker's hand in this piece, not only in the overall form but especially in the band of carved decorations. Look closely, and you’ll see these shapes which could be leaves, or stylized animals, or both. They're not perfect, they're not symmetrical, they are full of life. I love to imagine the artist working away at the surface, trusting their intuition, maybe going off-script a little, you know? The surface itself has this kind of matte, earthy quality. I imagine it's been handled and used, developing a patina over time. It reminds me of the work of Lucie Rie, actually, the way she coaxed so much warmth and character out of clay. It reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation, each piece building on what came before, adding to the chorus of human expression.