Featured Earthenware Ewer for Attribution and Age...Please?

This should perhaps have been posted in Tribal Art...but I don't have confidence that it isn't more modern, more artisanal. Y'all will be my guide about that...I have another similar vessel to post, when I find it.

The height is ~12⅞", max body diameter ~9", spout length ~4¼", neck length ~7½", foot diameter ~5½". That foot is very slightly concave (3/16"). The bulb at the top of the neck is ~2⅞" diameter. The vessel is burnished overall, and without obvious glaze. It's fairly high-fired, as it rings when tapped with a fingernail. It seems to be quite thin-walled, which speaks to considerable skill in throwing, not to mention firing.

The incised singular design (a bird?) is ~6" wide & ~3¾" high, and is characterized by coloring that looks like intentional temperature alteration specific to its location. There's a name for that effect when it occurs naturally and randomly in a wood- or charcoal-fired kiln, but I don't know what it is.

Your wisdom is sought, and will be promptly acknowledged with praise! Thanks for lookin'!

 

Just a guess Whit, but could this be a hookah?

 

Agree w/ Laura-Hookah.

 

Duh...I'm without clue about that, Laura & bosco.

Perhaps, I suppose. My sense of them is taller, and metallic...but your suggestion might be accurate. Let's see what others have to say about that...Thanks!

EDIT: A hookah has the function of bubbling smoke through a liquid (water?) to cool it, an' remove some of the tars. Such plumbing isn't present in this vessel, at least as far as I can tell.

 

A bowl,or a hollow tube and bowl (to place the smoking ingredients in) are inserted in the upright portion of the vessel.The bottom lateral tube is where a fabric or rubber hose is inserted culminating in a mouthpiece to draw the smoke from.You're right Whit-the plumbing is missing,but you probably find new (or old) parts for it on the web.Cool.

 

Aha! Lens images search found this. I can't link you to the page because it seems like a spyware pop-up site. I couldn't hit the back button fast enough.

At least you have a keyword.

 

ditto
kendi water jar

Productpage - Galerie Tjitra

A Very Fine Old Kendi Sacred Ritual Water vessel from Java Indonesia | #1919038955 (worthpoint.com)

 

Maybe everything you ever wanted to know about a kendi water jar but were afraid to ask.
https://www.beprimitive.com/blog/quenching-the-soul-indonesian-kendi-water-vessels

Google arts and culture has a 1996 artisan created kendi water vessel made of metal with a scrolling leafy design. They are calling it spinach leaf motif.

 

Even cooler-wonder what they might be worth ?

 

Hmmm...an' so do I!

 

But but but...I gave up smoking (all) in '68!

 

Good for You Whit-You most definitely outlived the Marlboro Man by 40-50 years.

 

It is in the right forum, because it isn't tribal.

I have bought kendis for little money because they were sold as hookah bases. Even here in the Netherlands, where people should know better.

Labu kendi means pumpkin kendi, referring to the shape.

 

@Any Jewelry
Labu means pumpkin (or gourd?).
That explains why I got hundreds of pictures of gourds when I searched with keywords Labu Kendi yesterday.

 

I looked up a sculptors name yesterday- 'A. Soffa',and got to see lots of beautiful couches (Sofas).Couple other people ran into this problem also.