Wide-Mouthed Globular Pot c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have a Wide-Mouthed Globular Pot, dating to around the 20th century, created by an artist from the Luba culture. It's made of ceramic earthenware. It seems like a very practical object, but the textured surface and the form of the pot give it a beauty as well. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Well, the beauty you're sensing likely comes from its functionality, not in spite of it. Think about the labor involved in creating something like this, sourcing the clay, processing it, shaping the pot without a wheel. What do these material choices tell us about available resources and techniques? Editor: That it was all locally sourced, perhaps? And hand-crafted. You can definitely see the hand of the maker in the irregular markings. Curator: Exactly. Consider also that the patterns, though simple, likely required careful planning and precise execution. The textures created add not only visual interest, but tactility. Do you think the intended purpose was purely utilitarian? Editor: Perhaps the geometric designs held some significance? Or were used to communicate the contents of the pot? Curator: Precisely. So it might function not only as a vessel but as a means of encoding cultural information or conveying status. This object straddles the boundaries between craft and high art. What's the relationship, do you think, between form and function here, and what impact has commodification and trade of craft had on the lives of Luba artists in the 20th century? Editor: This object has certainly provided a lot to consider. I had only thought about the vessel itself and how striking it looks. Now I'm contemplating all that it communicates about the process and society that created it. Curator: Indeed. Looking closely at the means of production helps us to understand the lives and ingenuity of the people behind the object. There is history embedded in every piece of the process and production.