A fragmentary terracotta sculpture

A fragmentary terracotta sculpture, in the style of Nok, Nigeria, Kaduna region, broken in half at the waist, the fragments are partly full of earth.

The Nok terracotta sculptures, dating from approximately 1500 BCE to 500 CE, represent some of the earliest known examples of figurative art in sub-Saharan Africa and are celebrated for their technical sophistication and expressive detail. Characterized by stylized human figures with elaborate hairstyles, triangular eyes, and intricate ornamentation, these sculptures are believed to have held ritual or symbolic significance, possibly linked to ancestor worship or social hierarchy. Discovered in central Nigeria in the 1920s, the Nok artifacts also indicate early iron smelting, suggesting a complex and technologically advanced society . Despite the cultural importance of these works, looting and lack of systematic archaeological excavation have obscured much of their historical context, though their stylistic influence is evident in later West African art traditions such as those of Ife and Benin.
The exact function of Nok terracotta sculptures remains speculative due to the absence of written records. However, their careful craftsmanship and consistent stylistic motifs imply significant cultural meaning. Scholars suggest they may have served as ancestor figures, grave markers, ritual objects, or even representations of social status or profession. Their burial in house floors and along with other grave goods suggests an association with funerary or spiritual practices.
Moreover, the depiction of illness or deformity in some figures may indicate an interest in healing or protective rituals. Others argue that the prominent placement of figures and their idealized features suggest a commemorative or didactic role, possibly linked to oral traditions and communal memory.
As art historian Ekpo Eyo has noted, “The Nok culture is significant not only for its terracottas, which are the earliest known sculptures in sub-Saharan Africa, but also for what it tells us about early technological and artistic achievements in West Africa” (Eyo, 1977).
Fagg, Bernard. Nok Terracottas. Nigeria Museum, 1977.
Breunig, Peter. "Nok: Cultural Flourishing in Central Nigeria." Antiquity, vol. 87, no. 338, 2013, pp. 840–853.
Willet, Frank. African Art: An Introduction. Thames & Hudson, 2002

Height: 77,3 cm of the whole sculpture
Weight: 14,39 kg