Nok African Head On Base
This bust features a terra cotta with a grainy, gritty surface, in a beautiful ochre-orange color characteristic of the ferruginous clays of the Jos plateau. The patina, uniform and old, testifies to a long stay in the earth, with some patches of crusting more marked on the sides.
The face is rendered with the stylization typical of Nok art: architectural features, a broad nose with well-defined nostrils, a fleshy mouth slightly ajar, and two eyes perforated into small circular orifices, faithful to the technical and formal tradition of this civilization. The expression is one of hieratic serenity, out of time.
The hairstyle is particularly meticulous: a bun raised into a crown, encircled by a braided bead running all around the skull - a recurring motif in high-ranking female representations within Nok culture.
Period: Before 16th century
Style: Tribal Art
Condition: Excellent condition
Material: Terracotta
Width: 20 cm
Height: 47 cm
Reference (ID): 1770111
Availability: In stock
