Djenne terracotta pottery, Mali, 20th century

Djenné terracotta pottery embodies the artisanal excellence of the populations of the Inner Niger Delta. Made without a lathe, these works are handmade with ancestral mastery. The potters, guardians of this know-how, use rich and malleable local clay, decorated with symbolic geometric patterns engraved or applied. These creations were used for daily or ritual uses, ranging from storage jars to funeral urns. To date, they combine utility function and artistic value, testifying to a thousand-year-old tradition of innovation and aesthetics.