Bura Terracotta Funerary Figure Head

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

This mesmerizing small-sized ancient terracotta head fragment, dating from 200-1200 AD, is a rare and evocative relic of the Bura Asinda-Sikka culture of West Africa. Despite its fragmentary nature, the piece retains a striking presence, showcasing the distinctive artistic style and symbolic depth characteristic of Bura funerary art.

The Bura culture, flourishing in the lower Niger River valley of present-day Niger and Burkina Faso, was first unearthed in 1975 with the discovery of the Bura-Asinda-Sikka necropolis. Excavations in the early 1980s revealed a civilization rich in ceremonial and funerary traditions, dating as far back as the 3rd century AD and continuing for nearly a millennium.

Bura artisans are renowned for their tubular and ovoid terracotta figures and urns, often adorned with stylized human heads. These heads, typically flat and minimalist, feature elongated or raised facial elements, such as ridged brows or prominent coiffures, emphasizing spiritual or ancestral significance. Some scholars suggest they may have served as guardians of the deceased or ritual objects tied to Bura burial practices.

A fascinating testament to the artistic sophistication and cultural depth of early West African civilizations, this terracotta head fragment is a remarkable acquisition for collectors, scholars, and institutions dedicated to African antiquities.

Good condition. Age-related wear with a chips, nicks, and scratches on surface. Size approx. 6,3cm x 5,0cm x 2,1cm.

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.