Overview
A terracotta head in the Nok tradition of Nigeria. The face narrows from a rounded crown to a small chin, with a soft brow line, almond-shaped eyes (one with a pierced pupil), a long nose and a small closed mouth. Large C-shaped ears stand out at the sides, and raised round buns of hair are modeled on the back of the head. The coarse orange clay is full of small white mineral grains, which gives the surface a speckled, granular look. It is mounted on a metal pin set into a 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
The Nok culture of central Nigeria is known for some of the earliest figurative terracotta sculpture in sub-Saharan Africa. Nok heads often show elaborate hairstyles with buns, crests and braids, along with pierced eyes, nostrils or ears. This head is a fragment of a larger figure and 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 neck, with wear along the break. The surface is weathered and granular, with soft features, earth deposits in the eyes and ear recesses, and a few small dark marks near the base of the head. No repairs are visible. Please see all photos.
Dimensions & Weight
The head is about 4.3 x 3 x 3 inches (H x W x D), and about 6 inches high on its stand. The head and stand together weigh about 1 lb 6.6 oz.
Shipping
Free standard shipping within the US, packed securely.
