This seems to be a flask/canteen or vessel for carrying liquid. Purse shaped almost, scalloped bottom...
It is made of rough pottery or clay that's sand/cream colored, with brown carved decoration.
One side is more intricately carved than the other with flowers and other designs. The central flower kind of looks like an orchid/pansy maybe?
It is fairly symmetrical, but not perfectly so it looks to be hand done.
It is very flat for a flask, less than 1 inch thick, 13.5 inches wide at the widest point, and 13 inches long from top of spout to bottom of object.
It is surrounded by knotted cord that it strewn through 12 holes purposely made in the object. (6 on each side). The cord has a sheen to it, making me think it is newer, but the woven threads in the cord are different shade of brownish under magnification.
Damage: a fairly significant crack runs the length of the less intricately carved side. There is a chip on the spout. The intricate side has no obvious damage. It was so interesting and beautiful, we had to grab it when we saw it.
On first look, this looked like it was hardened leather...it is some sort of pottery though.
