A terracotta sculpture in the Nok style, Nigeria, of a female figure sitting on a rounded surface, her style distinct with a ruffled loincloth between her legs, and a scarf crossing her bare torso; one hand rests on her leg while the other clutches a large elaborate neck dress, her face is relatively large with a typical nok styled triangular eyes with perforated pupils, wide nose with septum ring and small pouted mouth; elaborate coiffure in a high bun with the sides falling to the shoulders and the back small checkered carvings. Signs pf repair. Certificate of origin and provenance.

“Nok head fragments were once part of entire bodies and are the most renowned objects within the corpus known to date. These objects are so highly varied that it is likely they were modeled individually rather than cast from molds. Although terracottas are usually formed using additive techniques, many Nok pieces were sculpted subtractively in a manner similar to carving. This distinctive approach suggests that a comparable wood-carving tradition may have influenced them. The heads of Nok terracottas are invariably proportionally large relative to the bodies, and while not enough is known of Nok culture to explain this apparent imbalance, it is interesting to note that a similar emphasis of the head in later African art traditions often signifies respect for intelligence.” Source: The Met Museum, New York.

Non-binding TL-report: 1900 years +/- 14,25 %

sold

Height: 60 cm
Weight: 8,4 kg