A beautiful head representing all the classical canons of Nok art and illustrating the great richness and diversity of hairstyles within this civilization. Nok culture, Nigeria Date: 650 BC - 350 AD Thermoluminescence test, Alliance Science Art - Francine Maurer, Ref : 14.11.28 - TL 12178 (27/12/1994) Fine-grained yellow ochre terracotta, with visible old chips, scratches and wear, beautiful old ochre slip. H. 21 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. 203, #374, Burgrieden-Rot, Germany, Museum Villa Rot, June - November 1998