Antique Tuareg Hand Carved Tazawat Wood Milk Bowl W Tribal Repairs Mali, Africa

Description

The Tuareg tribal people inhabit the Saharan regions of  North Africa including southern Algeria, western Libya, eastern Mali, and northern Niger. The Tuareg are semi-nomadic pastoralists, meaning that they travel with their grazing herds of camels, sheep and or goats across large areas of semi-arid or desert land, often crossing country borders on a seasonal basis but most also have a home base where they grow food crops which include millet, barley, wheat, maize, onions, tomatoes, and dates. The word Tuareg is an Arabic term which means abandoned by God and is also spelled Twareg or Touareg. The Tuareg people refer to themselves as Imohag which translates to mean 'freemen'. The true origin of the Tuareg - were they came from or when they arrived in the Sahara region is a mystery but some believe them to be descendants of the Berber natives of North Africa. Tuareg culture is largely matrilineal and Tuareg women have high status and freedom within the tribe and participate in family and tribal decisions. The Tuareg people seldom eat the meat of their herd animals expect during coming of age ceremonies or other celebratory times and a staple food for them is dairy products made from cow, goat, and camel milk called Akh, as well as a cheese called Ta Komart and Tona a thick yogurt. Tazawat milk bowls like this one are highly prized possessions of the Tuareg women and are passed down from one generation to the next, repaired and repaired again. Not only used but also collected by the women as status and decorative objects to be displayed in their tents or huts. These Tazawat rounded bottom bowls were used for milking, storing and carrying milk, for souring milk and holding and making the various milk products which were the Tuareg main source of food. This antique hand carved Tuareg made Tazawat wooden milk bowl has carved engraved circular stripes on the outside of the bowl and exhibits a very nice dark brown patina and various heavy wear from being used a lifetime or more including tribal repairs which includes multiple metal handmade 'staples' which were pounded into the wood of the bowl to repair cracks. Also, a fill which was made from plant resin mixed with soil which was used like a glue product. This Tuareg Tazawat wooden milk bowl has a slightly rounded bottom and measures 10.50 inches across the top from one side to the other, 6 inches tall from the outer rim to the bottom of the bowl and has a diameter around the upper most top rim of 33.90 inches. These authentic tribally used antique Tazawat bowls almost always exhibit heavy wear and multiple repairs, cracks and worn edges such as this one. I combine shipping on multiple orders to help you save money so please check out my eBay store where I have thousands of items to browse. For buyers of multiple items please email me when you are done shopping for your custom made invoice with combined shipping & insurance fees.