A large, ancient bust of exceptional proportions, presenting a face with characteristic features and projected forward by a slightly bent neck. It is richly adorned and its headdress, although fragmentary, is highly sophisticated. Nok culture, Nigeria Dating: 650 BC - 350 AD Thermoluniscence test, Alliance Science Art - Francine Maurer, Ref : 14.11.28 - TL 7242 (04 / 08 / 1994) Grainy ochre terracotta with slight inclusions, visible old missing parts, beautiful earthenware ochre slip. H. 52 cm Provenance : - Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels - Marc Blanpain Collection, Brussels Publications and Exhibitions : - Schaedler, Earth and Ore. 2500 Years of African Art in Terra-cotta and Metal, 1997, p. 196, no. 358, Burgrieden-Rot, Museum Villa Rot, June - November 1998 - Grunne (de), Naissance de l'art en Afrique noire, la statuaire nok au Nigeria, 1998, p. 78, no. 35, Luxembourg, Banque Générale du Luxembourg, October 20 - December 13, 1998