Makonde or Makua calabash container
Tanzania and Mozambique, Eastern Africa
Calabashes and antelope horns are frequently used as containers for medicines, sacred oils, and other substances among different
Tanzanian peoples. They are often closed with beautifully carved wooden stoppers, miniature heads that mimic larger sculptures and masks.
As part of their healing repertoire, the Makonde use horn containers filled with medicinal substances. These functional objects become even
more potent as healing devices when they are combined with feathers and carved heads that may represent ancestor spirits.

It was a tradition in Tanzania to finely carve to tops of the containers, which then gave the container more person importance and made it
possible to directly link the piece to a certain tribe and region mostly by the shape of the head and headstyle on the stopper.

Art Makonde 1989: 77-79,108-109.
The objects below are in the Geller Collection
Kwere or Zigua calabash medicine container
Tanzania

In the Geller Collection
Provenance: Bryan Reeves with Tribal Gathering London
Kwere or Zigua calabash medicine container
Tanzania

In the Geller Collection
Provenance: Bryan Reeves with Tribal Gathering London
Other examples for reference purposes
From the fantastic book:
Paures de Tete (Hairstyles and Headdresses) from the Musee Dapper in Paris

Kwere – Tanzania
Three small bottles
Wood, fibers, gourd, beads and pigment
H 10cm
Private collection
Photo Hughes Dubios – Musee Dapper, Paris
Containers with Anthropomorphic Stoppers.
Makonde, Tanzania.
Antelope horn, feathers and wood. H. 15 In., Private collection.
Makonde, Tanzania.
Calabash, beads, and wood. H. 6 1/2 in. Jean and Noble Endicott.
Unknown provenance, Tanzania
Calabash, wood and strings. H.8 1/2 in., Jean and Noble Endicott.

Calabashes and antelope horns are frequently used as containers for medicines, sacred
oils, and other substances among different Tanzanian peoples. They are often closed with
beautifully carved wooden stoppers, miniature heads that mimic larger sculptures and
masks. As part of their healing repertoire, the Makonde use horn containers filled with
medicinal substances. These functional objects become even more potent as healing
devices when they are combined with feathers and carved heads that may represent
ancestor spirits.

Art Makonde 1989: 77-79,108-109.
From the book: African Alchemy: Art for Healing in African Societies

ZIGUA
(Tanzania) gourd with wood stopper/dipper.
Wood, red seeds, hide, leather thongs, plant fiber rings. 14" h.
Collection of Marc and Ruth Franklin.
From the book: African Alchemy: Art for Healing in African Societies

TANZANIAN
Containers with wood figural stoppers/dippers:

From left to right:
KWERE
gourd with female figure. 8 K" h. Collection of Marc and Ruth Franklin.

KAGURU
round vial with head on dipper.
Wood, oils, horsehair. 4"h.
Collection of Janinee and Michael Heymann.

MAKONDE
gourd with head on dipper.
Wood, leather and fibers. 8" h.
Collection of Janinee and Michael Heymann.
Medicinal container

Kwere peoples
Tanzania
Mid-late 20th century
Gourd, wood
H x W x D: 21.1 x 9.9 x 9.9 cm (8 5/16 x
3 7/8 x 3 7/8 in.)
Museum purchase
89-6-1

In the collection of the National
Museum of African Art
Medicinal container

Kwere peoples
Tanzania
Mid-late 20th century
Gourd, wood, copper alloy, plant fiber
H x W x D: 19.5 x 10 x 9.9 cm (7 11/16
x 3 15/16 x 3 7/8 in.)
Gift of Marc Leo Felix
89-5-1


Women healers carry medicinal oils
and herbs in gourd containers. The
hairstyle carved on the figurative
stoppers is typical of that worn by girls
during their coming-of-age ceremonies.

In the collection of the National
Museum of African Art
Tanzanian calabash medicine container from Tribal Gathering London that was in the exhibition:
"TO CATCH THE EYE & HOLD THE SPIRIT:
RITUAL AND PRESTIGE CONTAINERS FROM WORLD CULTURES"
The exhibition was in the entry garden of the San Francisco Tribal and Textile Arts show in San Francisco 2006
Link to photos and information from the exhibition below
The fantastic collection of calabash medicine containers from Tribal Gathering London.
Bryan still has some available, contact him through his website (linked above) for more information.
They also carry some very nice eastern and south African objects.
TO CATCH THE EYE & HOLD THE SPIRIT:
RITUAL AND PRESTIGE CONTAINERS FROM WORLD CULTURES
BY VANESSA DRAKE MORAGA

(The exhibit that was in the entry of the 2006 San Francisco Tribal and Textile Arts Show)

CLICK HERE to go to see the photos and essay from the exhibition
Calabash container - Tanzania and Mozambique
6" tall
Gourd, wood, beads, plant fiber, applied substance

Judging from the style and scarification portrayed on the face of the stopper, I believe this is
from the Makonde people. Similar heads can be seen in a few of the examples below.