Bambara Jidaga Water Vessel

Formed by pounding flattened clay around a convex mold, this oblong footed vessel is a water storage jar known as a jidaga, created by women of the Bambara people of Mali. The body of the wide-mouth jar is patterned with abstract figures of humans and lizards, framed by distinct horizontal bands characteristic of Bambara pottery. The figures are arranged as though standing upon each others' shoulders, perhaps to emphasize the interconnectedness of mankind and nature.