Lot 91A

Ancient African Bura Terracotta Head Effigy Urn

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Ancient African Bura Terracotta Head Effigy Urn

Estimate: $1,400 - $2,100

Starting Bid: $700

(0 Bids)

October 2, 2025 8:00 AM MDT (In Progress)
Live Auction
Louisville, CO, US


Description:

West Africa, Niger/Burkina Faso, Niger River Valley, Bura culture, ca. 3rd to 10th century CE. A terracotta funerary urn fashioned in the form of a highly stylized head. The vessel presents a domed cap adorned with deeply incised striations radiating from a central ridge, bordered by raised nodes suggesting a braided or beaded coiffure. Below, the minimalized face is marked by small protruding ears, a pointed nose, and a tiny oval mouth set against the textured ground of the cylindrical body. Though much about the Bura people remains enigmatic, their funerary practices are well attested: terracotta vessels such as this were used to house human remains and grave goods, including iron implements, ornaments, and beads. The exaggerated phallic form may have been charged with symbolic associations of fertility, vitality, and ancestral potency, reinforcing its role within mortuary ritual. Size: 8" W x 14.5" H (20.3 cm x 36.8 cm); 19" H (48.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection, acquired from Tremont Auctions, Sudbury, Massachusetts, USA,March 2, 2025, lot 318

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#196943

  • Condition: Professionally repaired and restored from large pieces with modern infill along break lines and gaps. Abrasions and losses to the top of the head and surface layers on the front center as shown. Mineral and earthen deposits throughout.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$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