Seated Male Figure

Nok culture, Central Nigeria
600 AD

Provenance: Michael Oliver collection, NY, acquired from Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels in the 1990’s

This is a sculpture depicting a male figure in a kneeling position, with one arm gently resting on his thigh. His oval-shaped eyes are strikingly large, featuring deep pupils, and his eyebrows are gracefully arched. Adorning his neck is a banded necklace, though his right arm is noticeably missing. The sculpture is crafted from coarsely textured terracotta. This sculpture is believed to have been discovered in close proximity to Nok, a village located in central Nigeria. The term “Nok” is an art historical designation based on its geographic origin rather than the origin of the people who inhabited the area, which remains unknown. This seated male figure might have served as a representation of an ancestor, a ruler, or possibly even a deity.