Una testa di terracotta - Nok - Nigeria

Una scultura in terracotta nello stile Nok, Nigeria, con una faccia oblunga, grandi occhi triangolari orientati verso il basso con iridi perforate e sopracciglia scolpite sopra di esse, un naso piccolo con anello al setto e una bocca rotonda stretta leggermente aperta; una piccola fascia con motivo geometrico separa la fronte ampia dalla capigliatura, intricatamente scolpita con due grandi chignon sulla sommità della testa e piccoli sulla parte laterale. Certificato di origine e provenienza. Inclusi cavalletto.

“Nok head fragments were once part of entire bodies and are the most renowned objects within the corpus known to date. These objects are so highly varied that it is likely they were modeled individually rather than cast from molds. Although terracottas are usually formed using additive techniques, many Nok pieces were sculpted subtractively in a manner similar to carving. This distinctive approach suggests that a comparable wood-carving tradition may have influenced them. The heads of Nok terracottas are invariably proportionally large relative to the bodies, and while not enough is known of Nok culture to explain this apparent imbalance, it is interesting to note that a similar emphasis of the head in later African art traditions often signifies respect for intelligence.” Source: The Met Museum, New York.

TL Analysis, Kotalla, 2010 years +/-14,8.