Ritual Vessel Date Unknown

This ritual vessel, crafted by the Dagari people, features a striking lizard motif and a handle shaped like a human hand. The lizard, often associated with adaptability and survival, speaks to a deep connection with the natural world, echoing ancient animistic beliefs. Now, consider the image of the lizard, how it reappears across cultures, from ancient Egyptian art to modern-day emblems, each time carrying echoes of its primal symbolism. The hand as a handle evokes a reaching out or giving, a gesture we see repeated in countless votive offerings and depictions of deities extending blessings. This vessel is not merely utilitarian; it's an embodiment of cultural memory, with symbols passed down through generations. Ultimately, the vessel resonates as an archetypal symbol, its symbolic charge felt viscerally, engaging our deepest, most primal understanding of life, death, and renewal.