Djenné hybrid figure embracing a zoomorphic creature Terracotta with traces of red and white pigment Kayana village, Djenné region, Mali Probably 13th–15th century Private Collection This exceptional terracotta sculpture belongs to the celebrated artistic tradition of the Inland Niger Delta and depicts a hybrid anthropomorphic being whose human torso terminates in a long, ribbed serpentiform or aquatic tail. Cradled in its arms is a second zoomorphic creature, rendered on a smaller scale and distinguished by its own clearly defined head and elongated body. The composition is therefore not a representation of a human figure holding a single animal, but of a composite supernatural being interacting with another creature, a remarkably rare iconographic type within the ancient terracotta corpus of the Djenné region. The sculpture can be attributed to the Kayana area in the Djenné region, one of the principal archaeological centres of ancient terracotta production in the Inland Niger Delta. Sculptors from this region developed a distinctive artistic vocabulary characterized by compact compositions, restrained modelling and expressive physiognomies. The broad face with heavy-lidded eyes, prominent nose and projecting lips, together with the elaborately perforated neck ornament and surviving traces of red and white pigment, are all characteristic features of the regional style. The powerful curve of the figure's tail forms an elegant sculptural counterbalance to the smaller creature held against the body, creating a highly integrated composition. Hybrid beings combining human and animal characteristics constitute one of the most enigmatic aspects of the Djenné terracotta tradition. Rather than depicting scenes from everyday life, such sculptures are generally understood as representations of mythological or supernatural beings associated with the cosmology of the ancient Middle Niger. The combination of a human upper body with a serpentiform or aquatic tail, together with the presence of a second creature, suggests a symbolic narrative whose precise meaning remains unknown. It may allude to concepts of transformation, guardianship, fertility or the intimate relationship between humans and the aquatic world that shaped the environment of the Inland Niger Delta, although no definitive interpretation has yet been established. The porous ceramic fabric, archaeological weathering and surviving mineral deposits are consistent with prolonged burial. The highly unusual iconography, harmonious modelling and sophisticated composition distinguish this sculpture as a rare and important example of the imaginative diversity achieved by the ancient terracotta workshops of the Djenné region. Selected Literature McIntosh, Susan Keech (ed.). Excavations at Jenné-Jeno, Hambarketolo and Kaniana (Inland Niger Delta, Mali). Berkeley, 1995. McIntosh, Roderick J. The Ancient Middle Niger: Urbanism and the Self-Organizing Landscape. Cambridge, 2005. Phillips, Tom (ed.). Africa: The Art of a Continent. London, 1995. Insoll, Timothy. Archaeology of Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cambridge, 2003. Selected Regional References McIntosh, Susan Keech. Studies on the archaeological context and iconographic diversity of the Djenné terracotta tradition. McIntosh, Roderick J. Discussion of hybrid anthropomorphic figures and symbolic imagery within the ancient terracotta workshops of the Inland Niger Delta. Inv. No. M/A/Z/1/7/9/8/2/ 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. Informant Yoro