Water Container
Early/mid–20th century
Jerma Vicinity of Niamey, Niger Northern Africa and the Sahel
Niger
The urnlike form and intricately painted geometric patterns of Jerma water containers are rarely seen south of the Sahara and suggest historic links with North Africa. The designs, closely related to those found on Jerma textiles, are applied after a pot has been fired, and are made using natural pigments such as iron oxide, kaolin, laterite, ochre, and soot. Because these fleeting colors wear off over time, a valued container may be repainted periodically by its owner.
A short neck and large basin give this pot a sturdy appearance. Its body is impressed with an underlying texture that results from the mat that was laid over the concave mold on which it was formed. With its refined pattern and muted color, this container can be compared with a similar vessel that was collected in 1930 or 1931 during Marcel Griaule’s Mission-Dakar-Dijbouti. [See also 2005.223].
Terracotta and pigment