Male figure
- DATE:
- 200 BCE–200 CE
- MATERIAL AND TECHNIQUE:
- Terracotta
- CLASSIFICATION:
- Sculpture
- DIMENSIONS:
- Overall: 19 1/4 x 9 x 8 in. (48.895 x 22.86 x 20.32 cm)
- DEPARTMENT:
- Arts of Africa
- LOCATION:
- Arts of Africa, Level 3
- CREDIT LINE:
- Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc.
- COPYRIGHT:
- Image courtesy Dallas Museum of Art
- OBJECT NUMBER:
- 1994.195.McD
General Description
A carefully modeled hairstyle and elaborate beard frame the face of this male figure. The slightly opened mouth and heavy eyelids over pierced eyes combine to give him a severe expression. His prominent herniated navel is common in the sculptures of sub-Saharan cultures. Based on his beard and adornments, the figure probably represents a political ruler, a religious leader, or a man of high social rank, with a staff, scepter, ceremonial weapon, or adze slung over his shoulder.
The oldest extant African artworks outside of Egypt were discovered in Nok, a village in the plateau region of central Nigeria. Most of the sculptures date from 900 BC to 600 BCE. The connection between Nok and Sokoto, located hundreds of miles to the northwest, has yet to be determined, but some scholars relate the Sokoto works within those dates to a peripheral Nok style.
Excerpt from
Roslyn A. Walker, Label text, Arts of Africa, 2015.
Web Resources
-
University of Iowa Museum of Art, Art & Life in Africa
Learn more about the Nok region. -
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Learn more about Nok terracottas. -
University of Iowa Museum of Art, Art & Life in Africa
Find out more about ancient Africa. -
University of Iowa Museum of Art, Art & Life in Africa
Learn more about pottery in Africa.