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Zulu milkpail (ithunga), South Africa
15" tall x 9.5" wide
wood, pigment
Early to mid 20th Century, definite signs of age and use.
From the South African Collection of Pucker Gallery, Boston, MA

$4500

Inventory # SA793

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A truly beautiful and elegant example.
Wooden milkpails have been commonly used among Zulu cultures since at least the mid-19th century. They are often carved with
various types of motifs on one or both sides of the pail well below the neck. In the case of this wonderful vessel, the motif is a square
section with rows of diamond shapes carved in relief that is present on both sides.

These vessels were not used for storing milk, they were only used for the collection of it. Milk was transferred into clay pots or
calabash vessels where the milk was left to form sour milk, known as amasi. Once the milk was removed from the milk pail they
were placed upside down on a pole to drain and dry out between milking sessions.

Some examples, such as this one, have breast like motifs carved near the neck of the vessel. These were functional as well as
symbolic features; functional in the fact that they aided in the carrying of the vessel when it was full of milk and symbolic in the sense
that the breast like motif invoked associations with the female form.

It is stated that women are discouraged from touching their husbands' milk pails because the milk pails are associated with cattle,
and, through cattle, with their husbands' ancestors. This association would also account for milk pails being regarded as heirlooms
and passed from one generation to the next.

Refrences from and similar examples can be found in the book - Africa: The Art of a Continent