Papua New Guinea Kamana Sago Incised Ceramic Bowl

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This Kamana or Sago Bowl was likely made by the Sawos people of the Middle Sepik River region in Papua … Read more This Kamana or Sago Bowl was likely made by the Sawos people of the Middle Sepik River region in Papua New Guinea. Just as we in the west would use a large round bowl adorned with tomato or olive leaf motifs for specifically serving pasta, this Kamana bowl was reserved for serving the New Guinean staple food sago derived from the sago palm. But there is more here. As with this one, such bowls often feature geometric patterns interspersed with faces representing spirits or ancestors.
Handmade from clay by women, without the use of a potter's wheel or any glazes, this bowl was fired at low temperatures under piles of burning brush. Only then was it decorated, undoubtedly by a man.
Serving from a cone-shaped bowl presents a challenge, so when in use for the sago, this would be placed in a ring of plaited cane to keep it upright. Otherwise, it’s typically turned over to best display the carefully wrought designs. On the other hand, with years of careful use, the unglazed interior has developed an indelible patina that speaks of meals and stories told across the generations. See less