A Berber Jug and a Kabyle Jug, "tabuqalt" Lot n° 4

2 water jugs, "tabuqalt". Berber, Kabyles, Algeria, Morocco, Rif ohne Sockel / without base Terracotta. H 15 - 18 cm. Ø 11,5 - 12 cm. Provenance: Christian Zingg (1956-2023), La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Pottery is one of the oldest crafts in human culture. The earliest pottery finds in Africa are dated to around 7000 to 5000 BC. Although metal, glass and finally plastics have increasingly replaced clay as a raw material over time, this craft has not disappeared and is even experiencing a renewal in more recent times. In large parts of Africa, the work with clay and the subsequent firing to terracotta is still reserved exclusively for women, whose men are usually employed as blacksmiths. The art of making vessels requires a great deal of skill and dedication. Work is done using the oldest and simplest method, the build-up technique, in which clay rings are assembled and the transitions smoothed. After adding decorations by carving or attaching, the blanks are fired at temperatures ranging from 450 °C to 1000 °C, usually in an open fire. Afterwards, the surface can be treated with e.g. grease or plant ash for embellishment. The formally exquisitely designed vessels were not only used for the transport and storage of beverages or food. Particularly valuable vessels were provided with elaborate decorations and were also used for the storage of goods or ritually. Here, too, the more elaborate the design, the more precious the product. In contrast to ceramics of daily use, which were used for transporting and storing drinks and food, as well as for storing valuables, cult vessels were also venerated as commemorative and shrine objects. In many cases, healing formulas, precious earth or magical substances are stored in them. Further reading: Guichard, Pierre (Ed.) (2015). Par la main des femmes. La poterie modelée du Maghreb. Lyon: Musée des Confluences / Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée. --------------------------------------------------------------- Homage to Christian Zingg After his studies at the University of Neuchâtel, Christian Zingg (1956-2023) embarked on a career as a mathematics and physics teacher in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The overwhelming number of his former students and colleagues who attended his funeral shows the extent to which he was appreciated as a teacher there. His interest in art and its history manifested itself in various directions: At the height of his career, he purchased the Villa Jaquemet in his hometown, built by Le Corbusier in 1908. Before that, Christian had embarked on a long journey as a collector, initially turning to ancient coins. As a scientist who wanted to get to the bottom of things, he quickly trained in reading coin inscriptions and eventually became a specialist in Roman numismatics. Among other things, he co-authored the 468-page work "Les empereurs romains," which was published in 1994 and reprinted in 2009. Due to health problems, he decided to retire early and devote himself to his family and his passions. With a marked generosity towards his relatives and friends and an always open mind to new cultural horizons, he had started in 2016 with a collection of African art that very quickly led him, in his unquenchable thirst for knowledge, to seek information from the best sources, build a library, browse museums and visit auctions and fairs, not forgetting the Puces de Lyon, where he loved to stroll in search of unique finds. His passion never left him until the last moment, not even when he was lying in bed not far from his home, wishing that his relatives would bring him some of his favorite pieces, which he found difficult to part with. (François Mottas) CHF 200 / 400 The condition (wear, eventual cracks, tear, other imperfections and the effects of aging etc. if applicable) of this lot is as visible on the multiple photos we have uploaded for your documentation. Please feel free to contact Hammer Auctions for all questions you might have regarding this lot (info@hammerauktionen.ch). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Hammer Auctions shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. In the rare event that the item did not conform to the lot description in the sale, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the item for a full refund provided you notify Hammer Auctions within 5 days of receiving the item. ------------------------------------ The condition (any wear and tear, signs of use, cracks, any other damage) of the item is the responsibility of the buyer.