Please note that this item is for hire only.
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Swahili culture and civilisation is a reputed regional example of influenced Islamic culture, due to the emigration of the Persians and Arab immigrants between the 10th and 19th centuries. Aside from their religion, they brought with them many materials and various luxury objects of quotidian life. Islamic design became widespread among the East African region, allowing people to adapt the decorative style.
Comprising a vase and plate, this pre-1900s, decorative copper set is from the island of Zanzibar, Tanzania.
The patina is rich, deep and encrusted from both age and use.
The vase is unlike most, almost angular in its form, with a bowl-shaped lip that extends farther over the body. The lip contains zig zagged notches along its edge with a floral relief that encircles the mouth of the vase, which can be seen from both the top and the bottom.
The body has a line with small fixtures running horizontally through it, suggesting it was connected by two halves rather than being hammered from one whole piece of copper.
The plate is also hammered, but with repetitive impressions, resembling a flower itself in its delicacy.
This Tanzanian set still maintains a later Islamic influence, but is nearer to the nature of African art that we have come to know more popularly today.
*Our pieces at Studio Zagara may show signs of age and wear, which is just how we like them. They carry with them years of history, so any imperfections should not be viewed as damaged or flawed, but rather the combined stories of people’s lives and experiences.
