A beautiful, ancient bust typical of the Katsina culture, with a sober style and virtually no ornamentation. The face, with half-closed eyelids, displays great serenity. Katsina, Nigeria Dating: 150 BC - 200 AD Thermoluniscence test, Alliance Science Art - Francine Maurer, Ref : 14.11.92 - TL 610268 (04 / 11 / 1996) Fine terracotta with mica inclusions, small visible chips, slight wear, beautiful old orange slip. H. Height : 34 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. 214, no. 415, Burgrieden-Rot, Museum Villa Rot, June - November 1998 - Bacquart, The Tribal Arts of Africa / L'Art tribal d'Afrique noire, 1998, Cover and p. 82, no. A - Grunne (de), Naissance de l'art en Afrique noire, la statuaire nok au Nigeria, 1998, p. 101, n° 59, Luxembourg, Banque Générale du Luxembourg, October 20 - December 13 1998