BURA TERRACOTTA HEAD #2 NIGER WEST AFRICA 3RD -15TH CENTURY C.E. TUCSON ESTATE for Sale

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BURA TERRACOTTA HEAD #2 NIGER WEST AFRICA 3RD -15TH CENTURY C.E. TUCSON ESTATE For Sale

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BURA TERRACOTTA HEAD #2 NIGER WEST AFRICA 3RD -15TH CENTURY C.E. TUCSON ESTATE:
$144.99

From a forgotten box in my office closet and the Tucson International Gem and Mineral and Fossil exposition in 2002 is this Bura West African terra-cotta head, from the Niger River Valley in southwest Niger. It is one of two such acquired from a French dealer in the given year. Bura artworks relate to a somewhat enigmatic culture that thrived circa 3rd - 15th Century C.E., and were roughly contemporary with the more well known Djenne Kingdom. Their cone shaped ceramic vessels and varied figural artworks were once an occasional offering both from African vendors and also some European dealers during the annual multi venue show - though not so much the last ten years or so, and pretty much not at all these last two. The offered head (separated as almost always from a missing lower portion) is schematically rendered in a known Bura style, with raised facial features and implications of a braided hairdo - allowing an opportunity for imagination to fill in the rest. It was collected sometime during the second half of the 20th century, and has nothing to do with the many recent replicas having a more cartoonish appearance and applied \"crust\" commonly seen. Keep that in mind if you should spot some of those. Condition is quite good for the ground recovery, with patinated surfaces showing well adhered earthen incrustations and appropriate signs of time and burial circumstance. There is an ancient burial loss of one eye, and some erosion of the hairdo. That said, no modern damage nor any hidden restorations. A look at the pics should give a good idea of appearance and condition. Size is about 3 3/4 in. vertical. About 2 11/16 in. horizontal at the base. If you are of Sub Saharan ancestry and desire a relevant cultural touchstone from your long ago, or you simply wish a single immediate improvement to the ambiance of an antiquities cabinet or room display, this will have great interest for you.

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