Bura Phallic Funerary Terracotta Urn

The Bura Asinda-Sikka culture, c. 200-1200AD, Niger or Burkina Faso, West Africa.

This rare and exceptional Bura funerary vessel, dating from approximately 200-1200 AD, is a striking example of the elaborate terracotta artistry of the Bura Asinda-Sikka culture. Crafted in an ovoid, phalliform form with distinct perforations, this urn was ritualistically buried with its opening facing downward, a mysterious practice linked to the funerary traditions of this ancient West African civilization.

The Bura culture flourished in the lower Niger River valley, spanning present-day Niger and Burkina Faso. First discovered in 1975 near Niamey, Niger, their necropolis sites have revealed a fascinating yet enigmatic burial tradition. This urn embodies the distinctive aesthetic of Bura terracotta works, featuring anthropomorphic elements such as stylized facial features, coiffures, and symbolic relief decorations. The Bura people, known for their tubular and ovoid funerary urns, often adorned these vessels with human figures, mounted horsemen, or abstract representations of fertility and ancestry, including phallic and breast motifs.

Unearthed among numerous burial sites, these urns contained human skulls, iron arrowheads, and ritual offerings, underscoring their deep spiritual and ceremonial significance. This museum-quality artifact offers an extraordinary glimpse into one of West Africa’s most intriguing early civilizations. A rare and highly collectible piece, it is a compelling addition to any serious collection of African antiquities.

Good condition. Age-related wear, minor chip and abrasion. Rich deposits on interior and exterior.  Size approx. 15,0cm x 14,5cm x 13,0cm.

Provenance: Dutch private collection.

References and further reading:

Bura Funerary Urns: Niger Terracottas: An Interpretive Limbo?, Michelle Gilbert, African Arts, The MIT Press, Vol. 53, No.1, Spring 2020, pp. 66-75.

Earth and Ore: 2500 Years of African Art in Terra-cotta and Metal, Karl-Ferdinand Schädler, Panterra, January 1, 1997.

Un "Village des Morts" à Bura en Republique du Niger', Boube Gado, in J. Devisse (ed.), Vallées du Niger, Paris: Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 1993, pp. 365-74.

One Hundred Years of Archaeology in Niger, Anne C. Haour, Journal of World Prehistory, Vol.17. No.2, June 2003, pp. 181-234.