Artwork Page for Fragment of a Head

Details / Information for Fragment of a Head

Fragment of a Head

1100–1500

Nigeria, Ifẹ̀, Yorùbá-style sculpture, unknown female ceramicist

Medium
Terracotta
Measurements
15.2 x 8.3 x 9.5 cm (6 x 3 1/4 x 3 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Private Collection 21.2018
Copyright
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
108A African
Print
?

Did You Know?

The vertical lines on this figure's face may represent the shadows of a fringed beaded crown.

Description

Ifẹ̀ is the historical ruling center of western Nigeria’s Yorùbá peoples. Its naturalistic (lifelike) style was first developed in terracotta, then later in metal. While Yorùbá men work in metal, historically and today, women make clay artworks. This fragment likely belonged to a figure or full head. Its facial markings may represent scarifications connected to early elite dynasties or indigenous groups. The high quality of Ifẹ̀ artworks challenged colonial-era Western conceptions about African creativity. In 1911, German ethnographer Leo Frobenius incorrectly stated that Greeks from the lost island of Atlantis made them. Such skillful creations were of course possible from African artists.

Fragment of a Head

1100–1500

Nigeria, Ifẹ̀, Yorùbá-style sculpture, unknown female ceramicist

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