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19th Century Tutsi Ceremonial Gourd

Name: 19th Century Tutsi Ceremonial Gourd
Price: 450 USD
Availability: InStock

$450

Africa Direct

Denver, CO

Condition Notes: Good, general wear. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by … moreGood, general wear. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners. Small splits, scrapes, and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use. We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings. Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage. less

Description: This calabash is also called the bottle gourd, and in addition to other names, it is also the oldest known … more This calabash is also called the bottle gourd, and in addition to other names, it is also the oldest known cultivated plant. Although technically a vegetable, it can be used to trace human migration because it has been carried to just about every part of the world by people using it like a bottle. This piece was crafted by the Tutsi people of Rwanda. More a social class than a tribal group, the Tutsi have been called an aristocracy composed of landowners, military leaders, chiefs, and priests. Being Tutsi means you’re at the top of the social heap with all the fitting accouterments, including decorated gourds meant to hold palm wine. You can appreciate this piece by thinking of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945 with an emphasis on the bottle rather than the wine. Like its western counterpart, it had a reputation and real as well as symbolic value.

"These exquisite Tutsi gourds are INCREDIBLY RARE. We are proud to be able to offer this gorgeous piece." —Elizabeth Bennett less

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Denver, CO

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