West Africa, Mali, Bankoni culture, ca. 13th to 14th century CE. A hand-built terracotta vessel of an elongated form with a ridged spine and highly abstract zoomorphic features. The cylindrical body has protruding nodules along the large ridge which may indicate limbs. Nodules encircle the top of the body and form a neck where a rounded head protrudes. Perhaps this is an abstract imagining of a gazelle or another grassland creature. Scholars posit that effigy figures like this example were used in a ritualistic context. Size: 3.25" W x 7" H (8.3 cm x 17.8 cm); 7.5" H (19 cm) on included custom stand.
Bankoni figures are named for the first place they were discovered, a village close to Bamako. They are some of the oldest known representative figures from the Western Sudan region, and were found buried in ritual mounds.
Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection, purchased from Andrew Berz at Berz Gallery of African Art, San Francisco, California, USA in 2014
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#162916
Condition
Repaired along base and body with visible break lines and traces of adhesive. Losses along break line. Chips and losses to high pointed areas. Abrasions to top of head. Light mineral and earthen deposits.