Hima Wood Milk Vessel

Cattle came first. Then the care of the milk.

For many peoples of Uganda, the Hima and Tutsi among them, herding was essential to life, and milk containers were made and kept with special attention. This one was carved from wood in the 20th century and fitted with a plant fiber lid. A wide, squat base rises into a tall, bell-shaped neck, a set of finely carved rings circling the shoulder. A tightly woven cap with dark diamond and triangle motifs covers the top, and two slender checkered fiber strands hang from it.

The wood has a dark, lustrous patina, smooth to the touch. Nearly nine inches tall. Do not leave it empty for long.