Description:

Ancient West Africa, Nigeria, Nok culture, ca. 500 BCE to 600 CE. A hand-built terracotta effigy depicting a kneeling figure with arms held tightly against the ribs. The figure wears a set of parallel necklaces as well as a horizontal belt, and perhaps an instrument or a phallic sheath rests between the legs. The alert head features incised diamond-shaped eyes with impressed pupils, a broad nose above thin lips, and a mammiform headdress with rounded tips. This figure is from a mysterious and understudied ceramic tradition that represents the artistic output of one of Africa's earliest centers of ironworking and pottery production. Size: 4.5" W x 10.8" H (11.4 cm x 27.4 cm)

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s

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#174071

  • Condition: Repair and restoration, with resurfacing and overpainting along infill material and break lines; some break lines are still visible. Abrasions, chips, and pitting commensurate with age, with softening to some finer details, earthen deposits, and rough surfaces in some areas. Nice preservation to figural form.

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August 18, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000