Early 20th Century African Carved Ritual Vessel — Zoomorphic Mortar on Human Feet With Red Ochre

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A deeply compelling piece of African material culture, this hand-carved wooden vessel stands on four legs ending in human feet … Read more A deeply compelling piece of African material culture, this hand-carved wooden vessel stands on four legs ending in human feet with six painted toes — a detail that places the object firmly in the realm of the sacred. The globular body carries four carved animal panels rendered in relief: a crocodile with precise crosshatch scaling, a bird, a monkey, and a fourth mysterious creature with prominent side-facing eyes. Around the neck of the piece, a hatched collar bears five swags of red ochre pigment — possibly one for each carved figure and one for the human participant who completed the ritual.

The interior is deeply hollowed with a rough grinding surface darkened from sustained use, and retains a remarkable sweet sandalwood fragrance that speaks to decades of ritual preparation. The red ochre pigment is absorbed deep into the wood grain which is the mark of genuine age.

Origin uncertain — possibly Cameroon Grasslands, West or Central Africa. Early to mid 20th century. Dimensions: 12.5" H x 8.5" W. Fowler Museum at UCLA has been contacted for scholarly attribution. See less