Description:

West Africa, Niger/Burkina Faso, Bura-Asinda-Sikka culture, ca. 3rd to 10th century CE. A tall terracotta funerary urn of cylindrical, tapering form, attributed to the Bura cultural complex of the Niger River Valley. Rising from a broad flared base, the vessel narrows toward a domed, rounded apex. The surface is decorated with dense bands of punctate impressions, incised zigzags, circular bosses, and grid-like motifs arranged in geometric registers. These textured patterns likely held symbolic meaning related to status, identity, or spiritual beliefs. Such urns were traditionally interred in burial mounds and used to house human remains alongside iron implements, beads, and ritual objects. The patterned decoration and imposing scale suggest a function as both a protective vessel and a spiritual intermediary connecting the deceased with ancestral realms. Size: 10" W x 29.5" H (25.4 cm x 74.9 cm)

Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005

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#195297

  • Condition: Repaired and restored. Domed top is reattached with losses to this area. Chips and abrasions across the surface as shown.

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July 25, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000