Description:

West Africa, Mali / Niger, Bura Asinda-Sikka culture, ca. 3rd to 11th century CE. A tall phalliform terracotta urn with a petite round base, a cylindrical body, a lightly-corseted shoulder, and a flared rim. The exterior has three small holes pierced through the lower body, and the entire vessel is covered in dozens of raised vertical columns textured with dozens of small notched grooves. Vessels like this example were buried with their openings faced downwards, filled with belongings (cloth remnants and other objects), teeth, and some bones of the deceased. This traditional ritual demonstrates the Bura belief in the continuation of fruitfulness from birth to life to death to rebirth. Examples like this were initially discovered in 1975, many by farmers who were preparing their fields. Hence many Bura urns were accidentally broken by shovels before serious archaeological excavations began in 1983. Lucite display stand included. Size: 6.125" W x 13.5" H (15.6 cm x 34.3 cm).

Provenance: private California, USA collection

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#145835

  • Condition: Base repaired from multiple pieces with light restoration and resurfacing along break lines. Small nicks and abrasions to rim, body, and base, and softening to some raised details. Nice earthen deposits throughout.

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June 6, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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