Bidspirit auction | African Painted Terracotta Head

African Painted Terracotta Head - West Africa, 20th century. A painted terracotta head of elongated form, modeled with a narrow cylindrical neck, rounded facial plane, pierced nostrils, full lips, and heavy lidded eyes beneath arched brows. The cheeks and forehead are decorated with short incised scarification marks, with a textured black coiffure rising above the red-painted face. Size 12 1/2” H, Weight 6.7 lb. Ex-Tennessee Estate. Family collection of an esteemed diplomat and ambassador amassed during travel and work circa 1960-1990s in the medical field providing charitable advanced medical care throughout the African continent and internationally. Condition: Surface wear, pigment loss, chips, abrasions, minor losses, and accretions throughout, as shown.