Lot 142
West Africa, Niger/Burkina Faso, Niger River Valley, Bura culture, ca. 3rd to 10th century CE. A ceramic urn of striking abstract figural and phallic form, created with thick walls and applied protrusions. The vessel rises to a rounded, domed crown, its surface covered with a bumpy texture, while just beneath appears a stylized face in relief with a pair of ears projecting to the sides. The cylindrical body front is covered with bold raised lines arranged in geometric grids, impressed with dense notching to form radiating motifs and repeating circular patterns. The base flares gently with a wide opening leading into the hollow interior. Though much about the Bura people remains enigmatic, such vessels were integral to the Bura people's elaborate mortuary practices, often serving to contain human remains and treasured grave goods like iron tools, ornaments, and quartzite beads. The dynamic phallic shape suggests deeper layers of meaning, symbolizing fertility, life force, and the enduring potency of ancestral spirits. Size: 20" L x 6.5" W (50.8 cm x 16.5 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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#195318
- Condition: Losses to the flared base as shown. Chips and losses to applied surface nodules. No discernable repair or restoration.
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