Nok Terracotta Figure Head Fragment

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.