A finely carved Zulu wooden milk pail, traditionally used for storing and serving milk, central to both daily life and ceremonial practice in Zulu culture. The vessel is hewn from a single block of wood, with a gently tapering form and smooth patina built from years of handling and use.
 
Milk pails such as this were known as Ithunga and used by men to milk cows. Decorated with amasumpa, which are raised, bumpy, or diamond-shaped patterns that resemble warts. These patterns, often blackened and deeply incised, serve as a form of traditional decoration on the pail's exterior. The ithunga also features lug handles that provide grip for carrying and milking, and it was once an important symbol of ethnic identity for Zulu men
 
42 cm Height