**Originally Listed At $400**
Ancient West Africa, Nigeria, Katsina culture, ca. 100 CE. A fascinating example of a hand-built terracotta head depicting a minimalist countenance consisting of protruding, coffee-bean-shaped eyes, a slender nose with a sharp bridge, a petite mouth, and a domed scalp bearing dozens of petite nodules indicative of hair. The visage extends downwards to form a gently corseted neck. Though its original purpose is unknown, sculpted heads like this example were perhaps used as funerary votives meant to honor the deceased. Size: 2.4" W x 5.9" H (6.1 cm x 15 cm); 7.375" H (18.7 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection, purchased in 2006 from Julie Carson, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#162923
Condition
Chip to middle of neck, top of head, mouth, and base as shown. Light encrustations to surfaces and softening to some facial details. Nice earthen deposits throughout. Display stand is adhered to rod inserted into head and cannot be removed.