Håkønljzberg
July 26th, 2010, 08:20 PM
The Nok, Sokoto, and Katsina civilizations of Nigeria were agricultural and iron-smelting cultures that flourished from 1000 B.C. – 1000 A.D. Terracotta objects, mostly human figures and heads, have been discovered buried in the ground, and their meaning and function can only be speculated, since neither historical, social, nor political information about these cultures exists. Very little is known about the Katsina culture other than that it was located at the confluence of ancient trade routes.
Katsina figures emerge from the top of globular jars, their bodies barely modeled with small limbs. The few complete statues that have been discovered show an identical position with diminutive bent knees, hands resting on the kneecaps (exactly like this piece). Unlike the complexities of Nok hair, Katsina coiffures are simple spherical skullcaps. The eyes are also treated in a unique manner—they are basically long horizontal slits.
The head of Katsina figures is often the only part that shows sensitivity in the modeling—often displaying delicate realism, and a calm, subtle expression. (Ref: Bacquart, “Tribal Arts of Africa”; de Grunne, "The Birth of Art in Africa"; Schaedler, “Earth and Ore”).
This piece is archetypal of the Katsina style, complete, unrestored, authentic, and a museum-quality masterpiece.
This piece was thermoluminescence tested by Laboratory Ralf Kotalla (Germany), and found to be authentic, having been fired (created) between 393 B.C. and 407 A.D.
Please contact us to inquire about this piece
Katsina figures emerge from the top of globular jars, their bodies barely modeled with small limbs. The few complete statues that have been discovered show an identical position with diminutive bent knees, hands resting on the kneecaps (exactly like this piece). Unlike the complexities of Nok hair, Katsina coiffures are simple spherical skullcaps. The eyes are also treated in a unique manner—they are basically long horizontal slits.
The head of Katsina figures is often the only part that shows sensitivity in the modeling—often displaying delicate realism, and a calm, subtle expression. (Ref: Bacquart, “Tribal Arts of Africa”; de Grunne, "The Birth of Art in Africa"; Schaedler, “Earth and Ore”).
This piece is archetypal of the Katsina style, complete, unrestored, authentic, and a museum-quality masterpiece.
This piece was thermoluminescence tested by Laboratory Ralf Kotalla (Germany), and found to be authentic, having been fired (created) between 393 B.C. and 407 A.D.
Please contact us to inquire about this piece