****This item was on display May 8 - June 29, 2012 : "Indigenous Peoples and Food Sovereignty" An exhibition in recognition of Indigenous Peoples on the occasion of the Eleventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Visitor's Lobby, General Assembly Building, UN Headquarters, NYC. ****

The BaShi people are agriculturalists living on the western shores of Lake Kivu in The Congo's South Kivu province also known as the United Republic of Kivu. Artistically speaking, they are best known for their hand carved wooden cups and pitchers. This utilitarian fare is uniquely distinctive. BaShi vessels are formed out of a dense wood which is carved down to a fine thinness. The mouths of the cups when viewed from above are only occasionally circular; the vast majority are eye-shaped, a form generally echoed in the bases. The remaining percentage has hemispherical bases. A variety of their cups have flat, sharp top, quarter-circle handles. Decorations typically consist of engraved lateral stripes and or pyramidal patterns around the vessels' necks and on the bottom of footed cups. To the BaShi the cups are precious objects and when broken are quickly patched with a metal strip of aluminum or of vegetal stitching.

Under colonial rule BaShi territory had relatively good roads and was well traveled by Europeans. Ensuing, lots of Shi vessels found their way to Europe over the decades up until about 10 years ago.

Now, BaShi cups are uncommon objects and found mostly in European antique shops and galleries especially in the country of Belgium when found outside of Africa.

Cup "C" only is available to order.

Please click photo for enlargement!

Dimensions: 6 1/2 inches tall x 7 inches deep x 4 1/2 inches across. 

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