Model, of gufa

A gufa is a circular boat propelled by a pole or single paddle, rather like a coracle. This model represents a Baghdad gufa from 1930.

The round basketry hull is constructed from ribs of wood from the pomegranate tree, interwoven with rope made from date-palm leaves and a rail of tamarisk roots. The outer surface of the gufa is made watertight by a coating of bitumen.

A wide variety of traditional water vessels were used throughout the vast continent of Asia. The gufa was prevalent around the Euphrates river in Arabia.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-180-002-040-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0504: National Museums Scotland Part 2 Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland T.1938.54
Date:	Model: Between 1930 and 1938; Original: 1930
Material:	Cowrie shells
Dimensions:	5.50" H x 10.00" D
What:	Gufa / model
Subject:	23. SHIPPING, Native Craft (Departmental Classification)
Who:
Where:	MESOPOTAMIA
Event:
Description:	Model of a gufa from Mesopotamia decorated with cowrie shells
References:	Idiens, Dale. Ethnographic Boat Models in the Royal Scottish Museum. Edinburgh: A catalogue of traditional watercraft from Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas. Edinburgh: Royal Scottish Museum Information Series, 1984, p 4.
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