Zulu, South Africa / Bowl Cover (Imbenge) / 20th century

Zulu, South Africa
Bowl Cover (Imbenge)
20th century
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Creator Nationality: Africa
Creator Name-CRT: Zulu, South Africa
Title: Bowl Cover (Imbenge)
View: Full View
Creation Start Date: 1900
Creation End Date: 2000
Creation Date: 20th century
Creation Place: South Africa, Africa
Object Type: Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects
Classification Term: Container
Materials and Techniques: Grass, fiber (palm)
Dimensions: Height: 2 3/8"; width: 8 1/4"
Description: Conical, coiled basketry beer pot cover; dark brown dyed grass bundles wrapped with dark brown dyed palm fiber; coiled from small, flat base which becomes top of cover; low, flared side walls with wrapped rim; seventeen utilitarian and decorative vertical raised areas of coil wrapping on walls; four yarn crosses spaced on wall, two black, two dark red; double twisted fiber loop handle attached to rim.
AMICA Contributor: Brooklyn Children's Museum
Owner Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA
ID Number: 2001.1.77
Credit Line: Gift of an anonymous donor, 2001
Rights: http://www.amico.org/rights/bcm_.html
Context: Imbenge are woven grass and/or fiber covers that are placed on Zulu beer pots as protection from dust and insects. The cover also serves as a food plate or as a rest for the beer skimmer or stirrer when the beer is served. The lids are often decorated with woven patterns or beads.

Many forms of Zulu basketry are now obsolete, but imbenge are still made and used (today some are made of telephone wire). Men were traditionally the basket makers, but now they are made primarily by women.
AMICA ID: BCM_.2001.1.77
AMICA Library Year: 2003
Media Metadata Rights:

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