Zambabue Bird

Zambabue Bird
Miska Petersham

Artist Biography
Acquisition Number: 60.35
Medium: Stoneware
Size: 22 1/2" x 11 1/2" x 9"
Date: 1960
Credit: Gift of Mr.and Mrs. William Porterfield

Petersham spent a number of years in Micronesia, Haiti, Kenya, and Tanzania as a research and design consultant. His inspiration for "Zambabue Bird" came from African mythology. Though no further explanation was provided, in African culture, the spirits of the dead are believed to linger around and influence the world of the living. The dead communicate with the living in different ways; if they take any visible shape, it is often that of an animal — most likely a snake, bird, or a mantis. Many African tribes also believed that the bird was the highest state of perfection and form of life. In other words, when a human soul reaches the highest state, it becomes a bird.