Overview
A terracotta head in the Nok tradition of central Nigeria, mounted on a metal rod set into a black wood block stand. The head is long and narrow, with a rounded cap or hairstyle on top, covered with small rounded knobs and set above a raised band. Below the band, incised arched brows frame small pierced eyes, and the long face ends in a nose with pierced nostrils and lightly modeled lips. The coarse orange clay has a weathered, granular surface. On its rod the head tilts slightly forward, and it suits a desk, shelf 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
The Nok culture flourished in central Nigeria from roughly 1500 BCE to 500 CE and is known for some of the earliest figurative terracotta sculpture in sub-Saharan Africa. Nok heads are often elongated, with arched brows, pierced eyes and nostrils, and elaborate caps or hairstyles. The tall capped head with a raised band and the small round pierced eyes under arched brows are also seen on terracottas from the Sokoto region, while the knobbed cap recalls indented caps on some Nok heads. This head 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 head broken from a larger figure at the neck. The rod is set into the neck break at the back, and filler has been used there to hold it. The surface is weathered and granular, with small losses on the top and soft, worn features. No other repairs seen. The stand shows light wear and some clay dust. Please see all photos.
Dimensions & Weight
The head is about 4.5 inches high, 2.5 inches wide and 2.5 inches deep (H x W x D). Head and stand together weigh about 1 lb 2.2 oz.
Shipping
Free standard shipping within the US, packed securely.
