Tanzania Carved Figural Gourd Medicine Container With Stopper

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Objects such as this were used to hold medicine. They were traditionally used by the traditional healer to contain either … Read more Objects such as this were used to hold medicine. They were traditionally used by the traditional healer to contain either liquids or powders that were then used during the healing ceremony.
It was a tradition in Tanzania to finely carve the tops of the containers, which then gave the container more person importance and made it possible to directly link the piece to a certain tribe and region mostly by the shape of the head and head style on the stopper. See less