This beautiful ceramic vessel was created by a
skillful artisan in the modern-day Republic of
Mali. At the time of its creation the Empire of
West African Mali was at its zenith. The famous
chronicler Ibn Battuta, a Berber theologian from
Tangier who spent a year in Mali, writes that he
was overcome with amazement by the exorbitant
wealth of the Mansa Musa court of Mali, whose
grandeur at the time was equal only to that of
the Mongol Empire. Jenne-jeno, a prospering
city strategically located at the confluence of the
rivers Niger and Bani, reaped the benefits of
these two waterways. An accessible and plentiful
gift of the rivers was ceramic grit, a material that
was worked by local artisans in a skillful and
sensitive fashion. The result of these efforts was
the creation of terracotta pottery that is truly
distinguished in the world of ceramic art. Here,
we see a striking example of Djenne artistry in
this handsome vase. With its pyriform body,
slender neck, and slightly flaring mouth, the fine
proportions of this vase truly please the eye. Our
tactile senses are also stimulated by the feel of
the vessel's smooth, highly burnished reddish-
brown surface. Truly a sensory delight, this
lovely vase connects us in a most spirited
manner with an African empire whose wealth and
splendor at one time were as legendary as we are
beginning to discern.
- (PF.6283)
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