Equestrian figure ·  Nigeria, Dakakari · ID: 3035064

Description

light beige terracotta, voluminous forms, hollow, tribe-typical face, slightly dam., minor missing parts (feet), rest. (legs), plate;
the Dakakari have become known for their terracotta grave sculptures, which are placed on the burial places of important personalities. K.-F. Schädler differentiated six categories of terracotta grave scuptures. One of them are equestrian figures, like the present, who are said to depict army leaders. The mouths are almost always open, and regarded in some villages as a sign of mourning. Religious pottery is only made within certain families, the knowledge and technique being passed from mother to daugther.

The object Equestrian figure with the object ID 3035064 was part of the auction 73rd tribal art auction on May 25, 2013. The object with the lot number 226 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,400 with an asking price of EUR 1,500.

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Comparing literature

Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, München 2009, p. 166 f.