Vintage Enkukuri / Kibuyu Maasai Milk Gourd, 24” Long

These are used by the Maasai nomadic cattle-herding pastoral tribes of Eastern Africa, inhabiting Kenya and northern Tanzania. They use them to carry milk, water and at times a yogurt of milk and blood which makes up part of their diet. They also have cultural significance, symbolizing fertility, wealth and their bond with cattle. 
 
These are typically made from an elongated tapered shaped  calabash gourd, embellished with leather straps and intricate colored glass beadwork. The top has a thick leather band which fits snugly on the gourd. When removed, the top of the gourd serves as a drinking cup.
 
We believe this was purchased by our mother in Tanzania in the late 1960s. It is in good vintage condition, all beads intact and the gourd intact, but the leather strap is deteriorating. 
 
We recommend this for decoration purposes only. 
 
Approx. L 24” x D 5”
Approx. 9.5 oz (270g)
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.