The molo mask is a sacred performance mask made by the Bobo culture of Burkina Faso and Mali, in western Africa. With its long, rectangular face, helmet-shaped and crested top, tall horns, and chevron scarification patterns, this mask symbolizes but does not directly represent Dwo, the main son of Wuro, the creator god of the Bobo. The mask is also supplied with a rectangular … [Read more...] about Bobo Molo Mask: Researched and Conserved by Cory Powell
The Lopsided Undecorated Ceramic Bowl and the Wobbly Ceramic Water Bottle were made by the Native American Mississippian cultures, who are well-known for their ceramic craftsmanship. Such vessels were made from local clays mixed with ground shell, which made the vessels stronger and more durable. As shown by the finger marks and scrapes visible on the interior of these … [Read more...] about Mississippian Ceramic Vessels: Researched and Conserved by Alice Heywood
The Maasai people are a nomadic culture in northern Tanzania and southern Kenya; they are livestock herders who rely heavily on cattle both for food and for products such as leather. Basketry is a tradition practiced throughout Africa, and it is likewise practiced by the Maasai. Baskets are used for many purposes, including winnowing and measuring grain and … [Read more...] about Maasai Leather Basket: Researched and Conserved by Sarah Teel
This Algerian pouring vessel was created and decorated in the tradition of the Kabyle-Berber culture, and it was intended for use in the traditional storage and serving of drinking liquids. Like other Algerian pottery, the vessel was hand-thrown in red terracotta clay and then decorated with colored mineral slips using brushes of goat hair set into wet clay … [Read more...] about Algerian Pouring Vessel: Researched, Conserved, and Reconstructed by Sabrina Osment
A rosette is a decorative artform that symbolizes wealth and status. Rosettes were used in as trade items, and Native artisans attach these beaded forms to a wide variety of garments, from headdresses or bonnets to shirts, pants, moccasins, and gloves. Rosettes are also used to adorn traditional personal objects such as turbans, pouches, bags, and quivers, and they may decorate … [Read more...] about Thunderbird Beaded Rosettes: Researched, Conserved, and Restored by Lindsey VanDieren