1930s Terracotta by Mbitim

The Azande were prolific potters for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in the 19th century. Their lands in the transition zone between the Congo basin and the upper Nile made them middle men between Arab traders from the north with their beads and metal trade goods and forest dwellers to the south and east with their ivory and other raw materials. With the arrival of Europeans and new outposts of trade the Azande became quick studies in creating goods to cater to their new neighbors and structure their relations to the new regional brokers of power and wealth. By the 1930s handicrafts in wood and ceramics were being produced for this small but active market in outposts throughout the region among them Lirangu in southern Sudan. It was there that the Azande potter Mbitim established a workshop producing distinctive, largely figurative ceramics in a variety of forms not limited to vessels. Many of his works would eventually find their way to England and the United States- including vases and bookends donated to the American Museum of Natural History and published in Schildkraut and Keim’s excellent book “African Reflections, Art from Northeastern Zaire.” In this lovely 6.5″ tall paperweight, a child wearing shorts and holding a box sits with a small dog. The fine features, delicate modeling and meticulous detail are classic Mbitim. The dog has lost its right paw, but otherwise in remarkable condition.

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