A Nok Head Lot n° 28

Terracotta head Nok, Nigeria Mit Sockel / with base Terracotta. H 30 cm. Provenance: - Gallery Walu, Zurich (before 2000). - Swiss estate, Valais. Thermoluminescence age determination: 2000 years (+/- 20%). The name "Nok" derives from the village of the same name in present-day Kaduna State. Since the context of most of the finds is unknown, all conjectures regarding their function are highly speculative. The age of the expressive finds can be dated between 1500 B.C. and 900 B.C., although the culture obviously came to an abrupt end for reasons that remain unexplained. Typical for the anthropo-zoomorphic figures are the prominent eyes with pupils created by a depression, as well as the striking jewelry and the extravagant hairstyles, beards, and headdresses. The eroded surfaces of the terracottas, made in build-up technique, were originally smoothly covered, and today are mostly weathered with grains. Further reading: Chesi, Gert / Merzeder, Gerhard / Eluyemi, Omotoso / Jemkur, Joseph F. / Rasmussen, Mark (2006). The Nok Culture: Art in Nigeria 2500 Years Ago. Munich: Prestel Verlag Munich, Berlin, London, New York. CHF 2 000 / 4 000 EUR 2 000 / 4 000