Utilitarian Objects

The economic, social, and spiritual structure of Zulu society is based on the benevolence of ancestors, beings who are integral to the daily life of all people. For the Zulu, food is a crucial gift bestowed upon the living by generous ancestors. The receiving, preparation and serving of food is ritually performed to recognize and honor the gift. Utilitarian items related to eating, spoons, beer pots, and cooking pots, receive special consideration in the ceremonial process, and are attentively cared for by their owners. Not only are cooking and eating utensils beautifully created according to Zulu aesthetics systems, they are also infused with the power of ancestors.

Beer Pots

Sorghum and millet beer, the Zulu’s most important beverage, provides sustenance with essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, and helps to unite the community through shared social and religious gatherings and communal rituals. The pots in which Zulu beer is brewed, stored, and served are created and maintained with a significant sense of pride by the individual owner.

Beer Pot Covers

Shaped like a shallow dish, beer pot covers are woven from various plant fibers, with beading generally added. These lids enhance the pot with color, design, and individuality, but they also protect the beer from dust, insects and other impurities.

Basotho Bird Vessels

Combining the spiritual elements of earth, fire and water, pottery remains one of the most fundamental arts of the Basotho people, and the crafting of this art has remained virtually unchanged for over nine thousand years. Women have traditionally assumed the role of pottery making among the Basotho, and clay vessels have filled the household functions of storing grain, water, beer making and cooking.

Milk Pails

The milkpail serves, not only as a container for essential everyday food, but also as a symbolic receptacle to represent the goodwill of the ancestral spirits who cause the cattle to prosper so that the continuity of the family group is assured.

Northern Nguni Vessels

These vessels exhibit a combed surface decoration unique to the Northern Nguni. Although the use of these large vessels is unclear, early theories suggest they were used to store sour milk, beer or food. More recent thought proposes these vessels were used by royalty as court-sized tobacco or snuff-containers.

Meat Platters

Zulu meat platters were used extensively during the late 19 th and 20 th century to cut, carry and serve raw and cooked meat during ritual celebrations and to honor the ancestors. The majority of Zulu meat platters have decorative panels on the blackened underside of the bowl. This decoration was probably executed as a means of identifying ownership and status, as well as providing an aesthetic aspect, as meat platters were often used to cover one another (to retain heat as well as keep flies away).

Baskets

These bulb-shaped baskets are tightly woven containers commonly used for storing liquids. They share an unmistakable resemblance to Zulu coiled clay pots, which largely replaced baskets as a means of transporting beer and water, when migrating cultures settled.