18" high $10,000* |
13" high $8,000* |
15" high $10,000* |
18" high $10,000* |
13" high $8,000* |
15" high $10,000* |
RESTORED
NOTICE: The pieces on this page were not tested because an initial heated probe revealed a surface layer mixture of glue and ground up terracotta. Therefore they cannot be considered authentic and accordingly are priced much lower than those that tested authentic. Interestingly enough, this surface restoration usually indicates the presence of an authentic core. Complete fakes, made entirely of terracotta, have no need of a composite surface.
The oldest and most impressive group of terracottas in "Africa Unearthed" are the powerful and elegant heads and figures of the Nok. Little is known of the Nok civilization (ca. 500 B.C. - 200 A.D.) The artifacts were discovered in 1943 during mining near the village of Nok (hence the name), in Nigeria. Over the years we have acquired many Nok pieces, varying in size, quality and amount and type of repairs made.
Those marked with an asterisk have been tested by thermoluminescence at Bortolot Daybreak Corp. in Connecticut and have papers documenting their age. All results were "consistent with the suggested date of the object concerned." Katsina and Sokoto pieces, of which we have only a few, are from the same period, even more recently discovered, and also from Nigeria.
Many of the smaller pieces have not yet been tested. A test, if desired, will add $400-$500 to the price and would then include its certificate. A failed test would nullify the sale and the sale price and cost of test would be refunded. Every single larger piece from the source of these smaller pieces passed its thermoluminesence test.
