Vintage Shona Pot - 61.2
£625.00
This Shona 'Hari' Pot is a beautiful testament to the ancestral pottery traditions of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. Traditionally hand-crafted by skilled women artisans, these earthenware vessels represent a legacy of functional art that has remained largely unchanged for generations.
Product Overview
The generic Shona name for such earthenware is 'hari'. Historically, these vessels served as the backbone of domestic life, used for everything from serving food and drinking to storing dry foodstuffs. Each pot is a one-of-a-kind piece, carrying the unique artistic signature of its maker.
- Origin: Zimbabwe
- Ethno-Linguistic Group: Shona
- Material: Hand-burnished terracotta finished with graphite and red oxide
- Condition: Vintage and carefully restored; natural imperfections and variations in the patina reflect its history and the gentle nature of traditional ceramics.
Artistic & Cultural Details
- The Maker's Touch: In Shona culture, the creation of pottery is a revered craft passed down through women, blending utilitarian necessity with expressive geometric design.
- Incised Decoration: Each pot features intricate geometric designs incised onto the neck or shoulder. These patterns are often finished with a distinctive combination of graphite and red oxide, and in some cases, highlighted with bright, mineral-based colors.
- Traditional Pit-Firing: These vessels are hardened through a rhythmic baking process in open pits. The fires are fueled by 'ndove' (dry cow dung), a traditional method that creates the unique, smoky variations in the pot's earthy patina.
- Prestige & Utility: While simple pots were used for heavy cooking, these decorated vessels were typically reserved for social and ritual contexts—serving guests and holding precious dry goods.
Size: 44cm H X 52cm W
Opening Diameter - 19cm