Description:

**First Time At Auction**

West Africa, Northern Nigeria, Nok culture, ca. 500 BCE to 600 CE. A hand-built and hollow terracotta head of a man with a pecked beard and a prominent chin. The neckline is incised with dozens of striations as part of a larger funerary vessel, and the hair is created with hundreds of pecked nodules. The creator of this piece originally adorned it with slip and fired it to attain a smooth texture. As is the case with most surviving Nok sculpture, this slip has worn away leaving a charming form, nonetheless. Size: 5.5" L x 4.25" W x 8" H (14 cm x 10.8 cm x 20.3 cm); 10.4" H (26.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: ex-collection of the late Peter Arnovick, San Francisco, California, USA, acquired before 1995

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#180785

  • Condition: Fragment of a larger vessel lid as shown, with small losses to nose, neckline, and some hair nodules, otherwise in great condition. Wonderful preservation to facial details and overall form.

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August 18, 2023 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