Featured What the heck was this used for? What is it?

Where do I buy?

 

Here is the link to that image

https://www.amherst.edu/museums/mead/exhibitions/2016/africa

 

Call me curious, but I would like to see a better view of the base. Details of construction sometimes can help identify an object, suggest an origin, or at least rule out some cultures/regions of the world. Is the bottom a separate board that has been attached? If so, how is it attached (nails, screws, etc.)? If it is a burl, is the bottom simply the section of the tree where the burl was attached - not separate from the body of the container - and it was hollowed out from the top opening? I think I see saw marks on the bottom. This might rule out some "ethnographic" origins, where I would expect to see adze or axe marks instead. Can you please prop it on its side and take a full, straight on view of the bottom so we can see any grain that is apparent, as well as any tool marks?

It looks quite utilitarian, which is odd if it is actually a burl. Working burl wood is fairly difficult, with the irregular grain, and more often an artisan would want to highlight the decorative effect.

 

I've heard of those creepy "voodoo" pots. I wonder if identifying the origin of the wood could be helpful!

Leslie

 

Pictures of the inside too, lit up, might offer clues.

In the overhead pic, there's four equi-distant rectangular holes (since filled in) that could indicate that there was something on top of the piece. Was it once hung, similar to a potted plant?

 

I wonder if it's not a fantasy piece.

Debora

 

Yes I am going to bring it in and take more photos with better lighting. Also the filled holes are interesting to me as well, very even around the opening. Wondering if it started life the other way up with legs?

 

Ok - even though I'm probably wrong, this is officially freaky. I had just done a search to see if this matched any images of antique wooden beehives when I turned on the travel channel and mysteries of the unknown started talking about the historical problems of designing a reusable beehive. Sooooo maybe it's a beehive?

 

Interesting. That could possibly explain the holes that have been plugged up.

 

The metalwork looks kind of Asian to me. What does the inside smell of?