Vintage Hand Painted Bottle Gourd (Calabash) from Western Africa For Sale

This hand-painted vessel is a decoratedbottle gourd (calabash), most likely originating fromWest Africa(such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, or Nigeria), though it also shares strong visual characteristics withSouthern Africa(e.g., Ndebele-influenced).

• Material:A dried, hollowed-out bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)—a traditional vessel material widely cultivated and decorated across West Africa, East Africa, and South Africa.

• Geometric Patchwork:The body features a mosaic pattern of alternating triangles and rectangular panels, reminiscent of traditional West African textile patterns (such as mudcloth/Bogolan or Kente) and beadwork motifs.

• Hatching & Line Fill:Each color panel is detailed with fine parallel hatching or cross-hatch grids, creating texture and contrast against the solid color fills.

• Collar & Neck Motifs:A distinct scalloped/sawtooth yellow band separates the body from the neck, bordered by concentric circles and fan-like radiating lines.

• Color Palette:A vibrant, contemporary mix of pastels and brights—teal, soft pink, lavender, ochre yellow, green, and orange—framed by thick dark borders.

  Dimensions (Approximate): 12 in. H x 9.5 in. Diameter