Africa, Nigeria, Sokoto culture, ca. 500 BCE to 200 CE. An impressive and relatively rare Sokoto terracotta head, with characteristic overhanging brows. It is difficult to ascertain whether it had a function; however, the conical body suggests that it may have been a lid to a funerary vessel. Sculptural works from the city of Sokoto in northwestern Nigeria were only first discovered in the early 1990s, so very little is understood about them. Sokoto pieces date to the same period as the Nok culture to the south. Typical of the Sokoto style, the head boasts a large round calotte, a high and broad forehead, eyebrows marked with incised hatchings that almost hang over the small slit eyes, a wide and rather short nose, and a jutting goatee. A wonderful example Size: head itself measures 2.25" W x 5" H (5.7 cm x 12.7 cm); 5.25" (13.3 cm) H on stand

Note: A less impressive example (in our humble opinion) sold for 1000 Euros (1,100 USD) at a Palais Dorotheum auction in May 2015. See https://www.dorotheum.com/en/auctions/current-auctions/kataloge/list-lots-detail/auktion/11190-tribal-art/lotID/1/lot/1877877-african-archaeology-nigeria-sokoto-culture-500-bc-200-ad-a-head-made-of-terracotta-in-the-typical-style-of-the-sokoto-culture.html

Provenance: Estate of Peter Arnovick. Mr. Arnovick was an avid collector and dealer of ancient and ethnographic arts from around the world.

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#111998

A fragment with minor old losses as shown.