Sokoto, modern day Nigeria, ca. 500 BCE to 200 CE. A pair of rich, fine, red clay figures molded with interesting iconography. Both are posed with a hand on their hip and have similar facial features (although the male is missing one eye - deliberately), and both have sexual characteristics that are their only differences. The female may be shown pregnant. Both have well-rendered coiffures. These are rare figures well displayed on a custom stand. Size of largest: 2.6" W x 6.5" H (6.6 cm x 16.5 cm)

Sokoto state in modern day northwest Nigeria is in the Niger River Valley, at the confluence of ancient trade routes and roughly contemporary with the Nok culture to its south. Very little is known of the ancient Sokoto culture; Bayard Rustin (yes that one!), who originally collected the Sokoto collection for the Yale University Art Gallery, recorded that most terracotta pieces like this one were found in large manmade mounds. Characteristic Sokoto figures are large, hollow, thin-walled, and low-fired human figures with heavy eyebrows and beards.

Provenance: Acquired from Bruce Frank; purportedly Eric Roberts Collection, 1980s.

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#119353

Some abrasions and showing good signs of age