NOK, Nigeria, 500 BC - 500 AD - Lot 100

NOK, Nigeria, 500 BC - 500 AD Statue featuring a standing figure wearing a wide, three-row necklace, a stepped belt at the front, numerous bracelets and a headdress composed of several buns joined by braids. The almond-shaped, wide-open eyes and closed mouth give the face a hieratic expression. Orange terracotta. Height : 75 cm (with base) 69 cm (without base) Neck broken and glued. A thermoluminescence test from the Ralf Kotalla laboratory confirming the authenticity of this piece will be given to the purchaser. Note: The Nok sculptures bear witness to an ancient artistic tradition with precise codes, particularly for hairstyles and adornments. Their function, probably ritual or commemorative, is part of the protohistoric societies of north-central Nigeria.