{"product_id":"nok-terracotta","title":"Nok Terracotta","description":"\u003cp\u003eNok Terracotta\u003cbr\u003eCollected in the Kaduna region, Nigeria\u003cbr\u003eTerracotta\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis surviving fragment of an anthropomorphic sculpture depicts the head and upper torso of a figure with arms bent and joined in front of the chest. The broadly modeled head is defined by a prominent nose, pierced eyes, and an open mouth. Raised ridges on the neck and chest, along with the massive arms, lend the body a remarkable physical presence. The reddish-brown, coarse-grained terracotta surface bears traces of deposits, abrasion, and areas of loss. It is precisely this fragmentary state that hints at the figure's original monumentality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sculpture is attributed to the Nok culture of central Nigeria, the archaeological heartland of which encompasses what is now southern Kaduna State. Named after the site of Nok, this culture existed roughly between the second and first millennia BCE; its terracottas represent one of the earliest traditions of large-scale figurative sculpture in sub-Saharan Africa. Characteristic features include anthropomorphic depictions with varied poses, forms of ornamentation, and distinctively pierced facial features.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe precise meaning of these figures remains a subject of archaeological research. Recent excavations indicate that some terracottas were deliberately fragmented and deposited in specific contexts, suggesting a ritual dimension to their use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSelected Bibliography\u003cbr\u003eBreunig, Peter (Ed.): 'Nok. African Sculpture in Archaeological Context'. Frankfurt am Main, 2013\/14.\u003cbr\u003eBreunig, Peter \/ Rupp, Nicole: \"An Outline of Recent Studies of the Nigerian Nok Culture,\" 'Journal of African Archaeology' 14\/3, 2016, pp. 237–255.\u003cbr\u003eMännel, Tanja M. \/ Breunig, Peter: \"The Nok Terracotta Sculptures of Pangwari,\" 'Journal of African Archaeology' 14\/3, 2016.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInv. No. MAZ20638\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight: 33 cm\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 4.5 kg (incl. stand)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Galerie Wolfgang Jaenicke","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54744982585667,"sku":"MAZ20638","price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0631\/3797\/2463\/files\/MAZ20638.jpg?v=1786884597","url":"https:\/\/wolfgang-jaenicke.com\/products\/nok-terracotta","provider":"Galerie Wolfgang Jaenicke","version":"1.0","type":"link"}