**First Time At Auction**

East Africa, area between Somalia and Ethiopia, Somali/Boni, ca. early 20th century CE. A large and impressively carved wooden ritual container, its walls intricately incised with horizontal registers of twisted rope-like motifs alternating with recessed bands. The handle is also meticulously adorned with a vertical band of incised geometric motifs at the upper and lower ends (mirrored on the opposite side of the vessel with even more intricate designs) and flanked by twin diagonally fretted bands that curve at their upper and lower ends and run to either side of the cup's surface - the upper ribbon-like bands with circular terminals presenting flower petal patterns surrounded by borders with rope-like patterns - a cord handle threaded through the openwork centers. Impressive for its size as well as skillfully executed carving. Size: 8.5" W x 9" H (21.6 cm x 22.9 cm)

Provenance: private Pearson Collection, Denver, Colorado, USA

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#130816

Expected age cracks and surface wear commensurate with age. Old repair and a small loss to the lower end of the handle. Earthen encrustation throughout, and more liberal deposits to the underside.