**Originally Listed At $1000**

Inland West Africa, southern Niger and eastern Mali, Bankoni culture, ca. 15th century CE. A rare hand-built terracotta vessel of a large, spherical form with a protruding collar below the cylindrical neck. Surmounting the neck is an abstract zoomorphic head that resembles an avian creature that is characteristic of Bankoni artistry. The fascinating visage displays a long, curved beak with incised nostrils and scattered groupings of applied rounded embellishments. The lower half of the hollow vessel is decorated with a lovely textured surface of horizontal and undulating striations. Scholars posit these vessels were used as funerary vessels associated with burial rites, though whether they were filled with cremated remains, offerings, or other substances is unknown. Size: 8" in diameter x 15.5" H (20.3 cm x 39.4 cm)

The term Bankoni refers to a ceramic style that developed contemporaneously with Djenne style. The style is named for a village close to Bamako, which is the first place it was discovered.

Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection, acquired in 2014; ex-Andrew Berz Gallery of African Art, San Francisco, California, USA

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#162804

Petite drill holes on base and neck. Expected surface wear, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with lovely earthen deposits throughout.