Overview
A small seated terracotta figure in the Nok and Sokoto tradition of Nigeria, with an ape-like face. The head rises to a rounded, conical crown above a heavy brow, with pierced nostrils and a wide mouth. Grooved arms curve forward around the body and the hands meet in front, giving the figure a calm, hunched pose. At the back of the head is a raised boss with a round pierced hole. The coarse buff-orange clay is full of small white mineral grains, which gives the surface a speckled, granular look. It is mounted on a square black block base and suits a shelf, desk or a collection of African terracotta.
About Age and Authenticity
This piece comes from a collection lot (ex Barnes) in which a companion piece was thermoluminescence (TL) tested by Artemis Testing Lab in February 2021, with an estimated age of about 2,200 years (±350). This piece itself has not been tested. We make no claim about its age and sell it as is. Buyers are welcome to arrange their own TL testing.
Background
Sokoto terracottas come from the area near the Sokoto and Rima rivers in northwestern Nigeria and first came to wider attention in the 1990s. They are known for simplified bodies and strongly modeled heads with heavy brows, and pieces tested by thermoluminescence have given dates comparable to the Nok terracottas of central Nigeria. Animal subjects, including monkeys, also appear among Nok-related sculptures. This figure is unmarked. It is from an ex Barnes collection batch (Jerald Barnes, an American collector who lived in West Africa for over a decade).
Condition
A fragment broken at the lower body, set directly onto the base, with dark adhesive visible at the join. The surface is weathered and granular, with earth deposits in the recesses and a few small dark marks, including a small dark ring on one shoulder. Please see all photos.
Dimensions & Weight
The figure is about 3.5 x 3 x 2.5 inches (H x W x D) and weighs about 12.8 oz.
Shipping
Free standard shipping within the US, packed securely.
