Monkey Jar

Monkey Jar

CULTURAL HERITAGE

The monkey jar is a pottery jug used for holding drinking water and keeping it cool. This is because clay is a poor conductor of heat and since the jar is unglazed, water is able to evaporate from its surface to cool the jar. It is known for keeping the water cool. The Monkey jar shows similarity with similar vessels from Africa in its shape and function, giving evidence to support that the design and skill of making this vessel was passed down from enslaved people.

Physical Object

6042

current,13.084317,-59.600278;

Barbados Museum and Historical Society

TEXT

The monkey jar is a pottery jug used for holding drinking water and keeping it cool. This is because clay is a poor conductor of heat and since the jar is unglazed, water is able to evaporate from its surface to cool the jar. It is known for keeping the water cool. The Monkey jar shows similarity with similar vessels from Africa in its shape and function, giving evidence to support that the design and skill of making this vessel was passed down from enslaved people.

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