{"product_id":"nok-terracotta-head-on-stand-nigeria-ex-barnes-4-5in-age-untested","title":"Nok Terracotta Head on Stand Nigeria Ex Barnes 4.5in – Age Untested","description":"\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA terracotta head in the Nok tradition of central Nigeria, mounted on a black metal display stand. The face has a large almond-shaped eye with a pierced pupil under a raised, arched brow, a broad nose and full, parted lips with a small opening between them. A raised ridge runs along the hairline and over the crown, suggesting a crest or dressed hairstyle. The clay is a warm orange-red, coarse and gritty, with many small white mineral grains through it. The stand lifts the head so it can be seen from all sides, and it suits a desk, bookshelf or display cabinet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBackground\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Nok culture of central Nigeria is known for terracotta figures with pierced eyes and stylized features, made from about the first millennium BCE into the first centuries CE. This head was acquired in West Africa by Jerald Barnes, a former US diplomat who lived in the region for about three decades. 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. Buyers are welcome to arrange their own TL testing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a head fragment, broken at the neck and mounted on a modern metal stand. There is a large area of loss across the upper forehead and crown, and the nose and parts of the face are worn. The surface has fine cracks, especially on the back of the head, along with earth deposits in the recesses. Please see all photos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDimensions \u0026amp; Weight\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe head is about 4.5 inches high, 3.0 inches wide and 2.3 inches deep. On its stand it is about 8.5 inches high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShipping\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFree standard shipping within the US, packed securely.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Belle Afrik Arts","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":60312034803998,"sku":"BA-1414","price":190.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1081\/5176\/7326\/files\/WhatsAppImage2026-10-13at16.30.45_2.jpg?v=1791923764","url":"https:\/\/belleafrikarts.com\/products\/nok-terracotta-head-on-stand-nigeria-ex-barnes-4-5in-age-untested","provider":"Belle Afrik Arts","version":"1.0","type":"link"}