Anthropomorphic Terracotta Vessel, Igbo Izzi Nigeria 20th Century

Anthropomorphic terracotta vase, ceremonial or medical, Igbo Izzi people of Nigeria. Fashioned with incised and relief decoration and an animal head with spots. African ceramic works can be loosely divided into two categories: figurative terracotta art and faience vessels. Unlike figurative art, ceramic vessels can be divided into two subcategories: utilitarian and ceremonial items. It is possible to find examples that appear to combine both broad categories when encountering figurative vessels; however, upon examination, figurative vessels were almost always used in ceremonial contexts. The association between pottery and ritual may not be immediately obvious. The collection of clay itself was also shrouded in ritual due to the close connection between humanity and nature. Even the firing process was considered sacred and often involved offerings to ensure its success. Anthropomorphic and figurative vases occupy a unique place in African art. They display the balance between various domains – the utilitarian and the ceremonial, the secular and the religious, as well as the material and the spiritual.