Ritual Vessel 12th /17th century

This ritual vessel was made from terracotta somewhere in the Inland Niger Delta. Its precise date and maker are unknown. What we can tell is that this object probably played a role in ceremonial practices. Its material suggests that it came from a culture that was intimately connected to the earth. Its aesthetic suggests a people conscious of the beauty and utility of carefully crafted things. The vessel provides a window into a place, a history, and a culture. Understanding it fully involves considering not only its aesthetic qualities but also the society that produced it. The vessel is currently held at The Art Institute of Chicago, where it is cut off from its original context, in the landscape of the Inland Niger Delta. To truly understand its significance, it is necessary to investigate the rituals, social structures, and economic systems of the people who crafted and used it. Research into anthropological records, oral histories, and archaeological findings could give us much more insight into its use. Art always needs historical context.