Ethnic Design Collection Reto Zehnder

Nice and rare wooden plate from Etrhiopia

An Ethiopian, probably Gurage, used wooden bowl.  This  used bowl is in excelent condition, no cracks. The bowl has a small "handle" with a hole for a string of twine as these bowls would traditionally be hung on the walls in the home when not in use. 

Interesting wooden plate from dark black wood. The plate has dark, thick, shiny and smoky patina. An extrordinary item;  a great piece of home decor. Most probably from Ethiopia.

Nice wooden plate with engravings.

Interesting wooden plate from dark black wood. The plate has dark, thick, shiny and smoky patina. An extrordinary item;  a great piece of home decor. A small, not open crack, see picture.

Small cup, probaly Gurage.

Small black wood bowl from Ethiopia.

Small black wood bowl from Ethiopia.

An Ethiopian, probably Gurage, used wooden bowl.  This  used bowl is in good condition with one crack see picture. The bowl has a small "handle" with a hole for a string of twine as these bowls would traditionally be hung on the walls in the home when not in use. 

Borana milk jug used not only by Borana people but also Oromo, Somali and Gabra. This container is made from a gourd (pumpkins)  decorated with cowrie shells. Intricate basketry is present at the top,  but  the lid is missing. Inside this jug, there is an old  encrusted patina which may be from a combination of materials used in order to make the container waterproof. 

This is a unique milk container, ghorfa, from the Borana tribe collected in situ during my stay with the Borana This waterproof container is made from woven natural fiber, decorated with cowries and inside there is a black encrusted patina. Borana milk jug used not only by Borana people but also by Oromo, Somali and Gabra. The Gorfa is used to storefresh or curdled milk and making butter.

This is a unique milk container, ghorfa, from the Borana tribe. The milk that these containers hold is a symbol of abundance. The container and the milk thus symbolize the ideal combination of abundance and fertility. The gorfa is made from woven vegetal fibres and  inside there is an black encrusted patina which makes this milk jug waterproof. It is used to store frsh or curdeled milk. 

A complete Turkana water or milk container with a  cover which can serve as a cup. It is in his original transport basket. A rare piece.

Made of soft wood, the bottom part is covered in hide. There is a separate lid also made of hide. The surface of the object is decorated with engravings. The ebur  is similar to the vessels called elmolo but bigger. One may be used to store buttetr the othert for milk. Similar object MEG: ETHAF 045640

A unique woodwn bowl on three legs and a round base, covered by a leather lid. It was collected in Southern Ethiopia, but its precise origin is not known. Any information is welcomed. Lovely warm dark rted/brown patina. An unique object.

Ethiopian calabsh container covered in cowrie shell. Exact origin and use not known, probably not milk but honey or water. An unique and beatiful collectible.

Made of soft wood and partly covered in hide with straps attached. There is a separate lid also made of hide. The surface of the object is decorated with burnt markings. The Turkana excel in wood and leatherwork. The present vessel lost its leather bottom, eaten up by mouses which love the smell of milk!. Similar objects MEG: ETHAF 045534 - 36

Small wooden bowl with a leather base and straps. Nice patina. Even this one still smells butter; such small containers were also used for honey. Collected around 1975 in the Omo river area it could be Borana as well as Turkana or Pokot.

Made of a cow's horn and partly covered in hide with straps attached. There is a separate lid also made of hide. 

Some atribute similar vassels to the Somali tribe and call it Waijr, but it is also close to Borana woven containers.  A rare and beautiful piece for any collection of Ethiopian milk vessels. 

This Milk or butter container was collected in Southern Ethiopia, exact origin unknown (ani information is welcome).  Cut out of a dark and dense wood it is based on four legs and a round base. The cover is a leather lid. It ha a crack on tzhe top, see picture

Made of soft wood and partly covered in hide with straps attached. There is a separate lid also made of hide. The surface of the object is decorated with burnt markings. The Turkana excel in wood and leatherwork. The beautiful and attractively decorated wood vessels are generally made out of Ekware wood (Gardenia volkensi) and Ekuruchanait (Delonix alata).Similar objects MEG: ETHAF 045534 - 36

A interesting and rare piece of a container made out of thick animal skin (elephant or buffalo?). It is in perfect condition with a dark black shiny patina. Inside, there is an old black encrusted patina which may be from a combination of materials used to make the pot waterproof.

Large wooden bowl used by both Pokot & Turkana tribes. The bowls are carved by the women using traditional tools and an indigenous tree. This bowl was used to receive cow's blood that is obtained by piercing the jugular vein. The bowl has  lovely engravings, a warm patina. One crack, see picture). Collected on the shore of lake Turkana around 1974. Similar item: MEG ETHAF 045527

Wooden bowl used by both Pokot & Turkana tribes. The bowls are carved by the women using traditional tools and an indigenous tree. This bowl was used to receive cow's blood that is obtained by piercing the jugular vein. The cow's blood is then mixed with the cow's milk. The bowl has a lovely warm patina. Similar item: MEG:  ETHAF 045649

Old Turkana wooden Milk jug with amazing long cup lid. Although this looks like a gourd, it is actually carved wood and was most likely used to carry and serve the traditional Milk blood which is a staple among this semi nomadic culture.