Decorated gourds in north-eastern Nigeria.

Gutes Ex.; der OUmschlag berieben u. m. L�ren; stw. eingerissen; innen gut. - Aus der Bibliothek von H. J. Kolo�/ V�lkerkunde-Museum Berlin. - Englisch. - Judged by normal African standards, the former province of Adamawa in North-East Nigeria, is 'art-impoverished', at least where the plastic arts are concerned. However, in an area where natural resources are limited, the peoples of Adamawa display well developed decorative skills which they utilise to embellish many of their ordinary everyday domestic utensils, such as the gourd, a multi-purpose carrier/container and also, by virtue of its intimate associations with feminine attributes and activities, a potent symbol of fertility and motherhood. In certain contexts the gourd may also function as a powerful symbol of social integration. This book describes the decorative tradition associated with household gourds and the social contexts of their production and consumption, i.e. use and appreciation, with particular reference to four neighbouring cultural groups, the settled Fulani, the Pastoral Fulani, the Bata, and Ungal. Material on individual carvers contributes towards the 'individualization' of African decorative art-forms � which are sometimes referred to asa minimal art � and questions their supposed anonymity. The book is illustrated with a comprehensive selection of gourd designs, and also includes designs found on other media. (Verlagstext) // INHALT : Preface ---- The area and its peoples ---- The gourd and its uses ---- Decorative techniques and designs ---- Gourd designs and their meanings ---- Carving as an individual activity ---- Appendix A: carving exercises ---- Carving as a social and cultural activity ---- The appreciation of decorated gourds ---- Appendix B: the aesthetic appreciation of decorated gourds ---- Gourd-carving and modern change ---- Notes ---- Bibliography ---- List of figures and plates. ISBN 00578802

ISBN: 00578802