Terra Cotta Head
Koma, Ghana
ca. 13th-19th Century
Provenance: Private New York Collection

Terra cotta figures from Koma are some of the earliest examples of ceramic artistic traditions in Western Africa. Molded in high relief, the facial features are created by pinching the clay when malleable, forming large, globular features. The nose and ears are perforated, while the open mouth and thickly rimmed eyes are distinctly Koma. Geometric motifs have been added as decoration while the clay's temper gives the figure a wonderful texturized surface. This example could possibly have once been a Janus Head, although the second face has been lost.

Height: 4 in.
IN. 1-7-15/ SOLD