Fragmentary Katsina Figure

This fragmentary figure is a classic low-fired ceramic from the beginning of the first millennium C.E. It comes from an area of the Sahel that now lies in northern Nigeria. Works of this general style are identified as Katsina, characterized by their tubular, inverted vessel forms with applied three-dimensional arms and legs and a well-defined face (or faces) at the closed top end. In this case, both of the figure’s arms have been lost, along with the lower third of the body. Nevertheless, this particular example is in remarkable condition for its age with an intact, expressive, and especially well modeled face and head. The piece was purchased at an unknown date by the late Joseph Knopfelmacher, who founded Craft Caravan, the landmark emporium of African arts and crafts in Soho, New York City in 1965. This a powerful sculpture depicting a bearded man of muscular build, possibly a warrior, in a peaked skull cap or helmet.

18″

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