Skip to product information
1 of 4

Nok Terracotta Figure Head Fragment

Nok Terracotta Figure Head Fragment

Regular price €325,00
Regular price Sale price €325,00
Sale Sold out
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

The Nok culture, c. 500 BC to 200 AD, Northern Nigeria, West Africa

Mesmerizing and rare small-sized Nok terracotta figure fragment, showcasing an iconic representation of early West African art. This captivating piece highlights the head and upper torso, with distinctive Nok-style features - angular eyes, intricate braided hair, and adorned with what appear to be strands of plaited fiber necklaces. The head is topped with a cap, and the facial features, including the impressed pupils and nostrils, are beautifully detailed.

The Nok culture, flourishing between 500 BC and 200 AD in modern-day Nigeria, is renowned for its pioneering terracotta sculptures, making this an extraordinary collector's piece. Their distinctive human and animal figures were the first known examples of such art in sub-Saharan Africa, and this fragment represents that heritage beautifully. Handcrafted using the coiling method and finished with meticulous scraping, the sculpture was sun-dried before being low-fired in an oven, preserving the essence of the ancient Nok culture. 

In good condition despite being a fragment of a larger piece, this sculpture is crafted from a reddish-orange clay mix, featuring natural quartz and mica particles. The surfaces show lovely earthen deposits, with softening of details and abrasions consistent with its antiquity, enhancing its authenticity and charm. Size approx. 7,5cm x 4,7cm x 4,4cm. 

Provenance: Dutch private collection

References and further reading:

Recent work in West Africa: New light on the Nok Culture, Bernard Fagg, World Archaeology, 1969, Vol. 1, No. 1. pp. 41-50.

Nok Culture, Mark Cartwright, World History Encyclopedia, Last modified March 27, 2019. (https://www.worldhistory.org/Nok_Culture/.)

Nok: African Sculpture in Archaeological Context, Peter Breunig, Africa Magna Verlag, 2014.

View full details
  • Shipping

    The shipment will be prepared in the course of 3-5 days and dispatched via Posti Group Oyj or purchased item(s) can be picked up from our shop during the store's opening hours (Tarkk’ampujankatu 4, 00140, Helsinki, Finland). Within the Finland, all items are shipped via Posti Group Oyj unless otherwise requested. We pack the items carefully and mainly in recycled materials because we want to save nature. You will receive the tracking number for your items by e-mail.

  • Returns

    Returns and exchange will be accepted within fourteen days (14) of receipt at the purchaser’s cost to include freight and packaging. Items must be returned in the same condition as when they were shipped, and will not be accepted if damaged or altered in any way. Please inform us via email (info@gotanmaailma.fi) or by calling +358408408352 before sending. We do not accept returns more than 14 days after delivery.