Kunst

Interiør og dekoration

Smykker og ædelstene

Ure, kuglepenne og lightere

Mode

Mønter og frimærker

Tegneserier og animation

Klassiske Biler, Motorcykler og automobilia

Vin, whisky og spiritus

Asiatisk Kunst og stammekunst

Byttekort

Legetøj og modeller

Arkæologi og naturhistorie

Sport

Musik, film og kameraer

Bøger og historiske memorabilia

De fineste genstande bragt til dig af {name}

Julien Gauthier

A terracotta sculpture in the style of Komaland, Ghana.

Komaland terracotta sculptures are a distinctive corpus of archaeological artifacts originating from the Upper West Region of northern Ghana, associated with the ancient cultures of the Koma people. These sculptures date from approximately the 6th to 14th centuries CE and were discovered primarily in the Yikpabongo area of the Koma Land plateau. They are considered one of the most significant terracotta traditions in West Africa, notable for their formal diversity, symbolic complexity, and archaeological importance.

Komaland terracottas are typically modeled in fired clay and vary widely in form and size. They include full human figures, torsos, heads, animals, and enigmatic composite beings that combine human and non-human features. Human heads often feature highly abstracted facial features: bulging eyes, columnar noses, and thick lips are common. Some heads appear to wear helmets or elaborate hairstyles, while others are pierced, possibly to allow the insertion of ornaments or for ritual libation. Full-body figures are often seated or cross-legged and display gestures whose meanings are still debated, though they may reflect social roles, ritual postures, or symbolic communication with the spirit world.

Many figures also include zoomorphic elements—stylized representations of birds, snakes, or quadrupeds—either as standalone sculptures or as appendages to human forms. These hybrid forms suggest a belief system in which the boundaries between the human, animal, and spiritual realms were fluid, and where symbolic transformation played a key role in cosmological thinking. Scholars have speculated that some of these figures may have functioned as spirit vessels, healing objects, or intermediaries in communication with ancestors or deities.

The relative lack of written records from the culture that produced these objects makes their interpretation dependent on archaeological context, formal analysis, and cautious ethnographic analogy. However, unlike Nok or Katsina terracottas, which have been more extensively looted and decontextualized, many Komaland sculptures have been studied in situ, allowing for a more grounded understanding of their use and cultural meaning. Radiocarbon dating from burial contexts has helped establish a reliable chronology for the site’s occupation and ritual practices.

From an art historical perspective, Komaland terracottas stand out for their abstracted formal language and psychological intensity. They offer a contrast to the more naturalistic or idealized styles seen in other West African traditions, instead favoring expressive distortion and symbolic clarity. This has led to their inclusion in major international exhibitions and growing recognition among scholars of African art and archaeology.

Despite their growing visibility, many Komaland sculptures have also entered global art markets through illicit excavation and trade. The removal of objects without documentation not only damages the archaeological record but also severs the link between these artifacts and the cultural narratives they once supported. As a result, museums and researchers are increasingly focused on provenance research, conservation, and collaboration with Ghanaian institutions to ensure ethical study and display.

References:

Ben Kankpeyeng, Timothy Insoll, and Samuel Nkumbaan, “Materializing Performance and Ritual: The Case of the Koma Land Archaeological Sites in Northern Ghana,” African Archaeological Review 28, no. 1 (2011): 21–37.

Timothy Insoll and Ben Kankpeyeng, “Fragmented Ancestors? Reinterpreting the Archaeology of Komaland, Ghana,” Journal of African Archaeology 10, no. 1 (2012): 73–100.

Ekpo Eyo, Two Thousand Years of Nigerian Art (London: Ethnographica, 1977).

Christopher D. Roy, Art and Life in Africa (University of Iowa Museum of Art, 1992).

The seller guarantees and can prove that the object was obtained legally. The seller was informed by Catawiki that they had to provide the documentation required by the laws and regulations in their country of residence. The seller guarantees and is entitled to sell/export this object. The seller will provide all provenance information known about the object to the buyer. The seller ensures that any necessary permits are/will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer immediately about any delays in obtaining such permits.
 


Terrakotta - Rimelig stand

En terrakottaskulptur - Komaland - Ghana  (Ingen mindstepris)

Modelbiler

Reservepris

Ingen mindstepris

Køb nu

Budget

Slutdato

søndag

fredag

lørdag

mandag

torsdag

i morgen

17 marts

21 marts

18 marts

Lokation

Italien

Holland

Frankrig

Belgien

Spanien

Japan

Tyskland

Portugal

Storbritannien

Cypern

Østrig

Litauen

Schweiz

Kroatien

Letland

Polen

Danmark

Hongkong

Luxembourg

Rumænien

Sverige

Tjekkiet

Grækenland

Finland

Tyrkiet

Brand

Minichamps

Solido

Tamiya

Bburago

Spark

Dinky Toys

Norev

Maisto

Hot Wheels

Otto Mobile

Matchbox

Corgi

Tecnomodel

Autoart

GT Spirit

Look Smart

Schuco

Franklin Mint

Polistil

Brumm

Altaya

Kyosho

Genstand

Modelbil

Modelracerbil

Modelsportsvogn

Modellastlbil

Modelsæt

Modelsedan

Modelcoupé

Legetøjsbiler

Modelkassevogn

Modelmotorcykel

Modelcabrioletbil

Automobilia

Modelbåd

Lille modelbybil

Modelbus

Modelhatchback

Legetøj

Modellandbrugsmaskiner

Modelmaskiner

Modelstationcar

Diorama

Samlesæt

Modelskib

Skibsmodel med halvskrog

Modeller af militærkøretøj

Oprindelsesland

Malaysia

Förenta staterna

Europa

U.K.

Materiale

Trykstøbt

Plast

Harpiks

Hvidmetal

Træ

Metal

Emalje

Tilstand

Som ny

Meget god

Brugt

Næsten som ny

Rimelig

Dårlig

Som ny - ubrugt

Mangelfuld

fremragende stand

Fremragende stand - næsten ikke brugt med minimalt tegn på aldring og slid

4: Brugt

God stand - brugt med små tegn på aldring og mindre fejl

Ekstra tilbehør

I original æske

I original forseglet æske

Uden original æske

Med erstatningsæske

Med reproboks

i ubeskadiget forseglet original kasse

med original æske

indrammet

Begrænset oplag

ikke i kasse

Nummereret

Håndunderskrevet personligt

i uåbnet boks segl brudt

åben

i beskadiget åben original kasse

i forseglet boks

Periode

1960-1970

1990-2000

1950-1960

2000-2010

2010-2020

2020+

1970-1980

1980-1990

2024

2025

1930-1940

1940-1950

2023

2022

2021

2020

2026

1920-1930

1900-1910

1850-1900

1910-1920

Efter 2000

Emne

Popkultur

Transport

Stil

Samtidskunst

Vintage

Konceptkunst

Teknik

Blandet teknik

Mixed media

Pastelmaleri

Signatur

Håndunderskrevet

Ikke signeret

Farve

Rød

Flere farver

Hvid

Blå

Sort

Grøn

Sølv

Grå

Orange

Modelbiler

Denne genstand er ikke længere tilgængeligt, men der er stadig meget at udforske

En terrakottaskulptur - Komaland - Ghana (Ingen mindstepris)

Populær i Modelbiler

1900 genstande

Relaterede samlinger