Swazi Meat Platter - 20th Century

 

"Umcwembe"

 

 

    

 

Swazi wooden meat trays are known for their exceptional symmetry.

Example (A) is nearly perfectly round.

 

 

 

This example (B), is larger and a powerful example of this Swazi simplistic form.

 

 

 

Example (B)

 

Four legs kept the meat platters raised from the surface.

Visually appealing lugs were added to either side of Swazi bowls so that they might be hung when not in use.

 

 

 

Example (C) emits the feeling of Fijian kava bowls, while at the same time sports the longest legs known to us on Swazi meat platters.

 

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The small carved center indentation on the underside of Swazi bowls are tribally reflective of Swazi fighting sticks. Their knobkerries have two, one top - one bottom, apparently meant to stop fresh wood from splitting.

 

 

 

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Example (D) displays well from either side if its display mounting. The underside of Swazi meat trays were scorched to ward off and prevent insect damage. The singeing process is known as pokerwork.

 

 

 

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Enjoy a second "ET" lookalike (E).

 

 

 

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Example (F), of oval form.

 

 

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Example (G) is large, symmetrically circular and has squared off handles like "C".

 

 

       

 

Example (H)

 

Both the Zulu and Swazi produced double meat trays. Our example has a dark patina of use.

 

 

       

 

Example (I)

 

This exceptionally rare example had five bowls, a number which would have been used for various relishes. The raised design pattern on it's underside suggests a Zulu origin, but it was collected in Swaziland from a Swazi. As dry patina of  age is retained. 

 

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Mbunda Food Bowl

 

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The Mbunda migrated eastwards from Angola into the Ba Rotze plain (Western Zambia) from the first half of the 19th century. They produced food bowls known as Mukeke or Mukeka and grain storage containers called Dondo. This is a lidded Mukeka once contained maize porridge relished with wild game. Open carved chevron decorations were more common during the late 19th to mid 20th centuries.

 

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