West Africa, present day Niger and Burkina Faso, Bura-Asinda-Sikka area, ca. 1100 to 1500 CE. A hand-carved sandstone funerary idol with a columnar body, wide lateral projections, and a tall spade-form head. The highly-stylized visage is composed of annular eyes, a high-crested nose which runs from the top of the head to the neck, and an incised mouth, curved to a slight smile and split in half by the nose. Naturally embellished in warm hues of tan and beige, this fascinating figure was found in a necropolis that was filled with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic terracotta and stone figurines, frequently placed above inhumation-style burials; many of these burials also included bronze jewelry, iron weapons, and glass beads (the latter indicating that this culture had trade ties across the Sahara with North Africa). This object's pointed base would have served as a topper for an urn or as a stake for it to be placed in the ground as a gravemarker. Scholars posit that figures like this one were intended to represent individuals. Size: 4.875" W x 19.5" H (12.4 cm x 49.5 cm)

Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection, acquired in 2017; ex-Gallery Jatad, Houston, Texas, USA

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#162789

Nose has been reattached with restoration over break line. Expected surface wear with nicks/chips and abrasions throughout, commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with lovely earthen deposits.