Bidspirit auction | Nok Terracotta Head Fragment, Probably

Nok Terracotta Head Fragment, Probably 500 BCE?200 CE - West Africa, likely Nigeria, Nok culture, probably 500 BCE - 200 CE. A terracotta head fragment modeled in rounded form, with recessed slit-form eyes, pierced nostrils, and a small projecting mouth. The facial features are spare and abstracted, yet retain a quiet expressive force, with the simplified planes of the brow, nose, and mouth reflecting the sculptural vocabulary associated with Nok terracotta figures. Height: 7.5 in. overall with stand Ex-Los Angeles Fint Art Gallery Condition: Condition: Fragmentary as shown, with losses to the lower neck and reverse. Surface wear, encrustation, abrasions, and small chips throughout, consistent with age and burial. Mounted on a custom black display stand.