Anthropomorphic Ceremonial Terracotta Vessel Igbo Izzi people of Nigeria Old

Description: Welcome to Frogabilia! We are a Greek/English family-run business established in the UK in 2011. Since then we have built up a large collection of unique items, hand-picked from private collectors sales. Our choice of items is based on quality, craftsmanship, cultural interest and beauty. We research every single item and aim to provide as much information as possible about its history and provenance. We speak English perfectly, as well as understanding Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French, so please do communicate without fear for any questions you may have. We are here to help and provide any information you need at all times. We have been packing and sending items abroad for many years and have successfully delivered even the most fragile pieces including Venetian mirrors, carved chairs and arabesque tables. Customer satisfaction is assured; please do take the time to look at the excellent feedback we have received over the years. We hope you enjoy browsing our stock and feel reassured that you can buy with confidence:-) This Listing is for:Old Anthropomorphic or Zoomorphic Ceremonial Terracotta Vessel Igbo Izzi people of Nigeriacirca 18th-19th C with grain sediments insideappears to have been used on fire as the base is blackenedBeautifully shaped as a face of a person or an animal or demon with distinct ears and tongueincised and raised decorationCeramic works from Africa can be loosely divided into two categories: terra cotta figurative art and earthenware vessels. In opposition to figurative art, ceramic vessels can be broken down into two sub-categories: utilitarian and ceremonial wares. It is possible to find examples that appear to combine the two major categories when encountering figurative vessels; yet, upon examination figurative vessels were almost always used in ceremonial contexts.The association between pottery and ritual may not seem evident at first. To ancient people, the transformation of raw soft clay to hardened brittle pottery in a pit of fire must have appeared nothing short of magical. The collection of clay itself was also wrapped in ritual due to the close connection between humanity and nature. Even the firing process was considered sacred and often involved offerings to ensure its success. In many respects, the transformation from clay to fired ceramics was a form of alchemy, and in this regard was related to metal smithing. In many African societies, both potters and metal smiths were elevated in status because of their abilities to create magical objects imbued with all sorts of powers. It comes as no surprise that some of the earliest figurative pottery vessels were found in elaborate burial sites...Anthropomorphic and figurative vessels occupy a unique place in African art. They display the balance between various realms – the utilitarian and ceremonial, secular and religious, and material and spiritual. The artistic ability and skill of the potters makes one want to call them sculptors; however, their creations are distinctly separated from figurative terra cotta sculpture by function and use. Half a world away from where they were created, African figurative ceramic vessels still display dignity, esteem and personality. Today, they are valued by collectors for their individuality, beauty, diversity, rarity and extraordinary design – qualities that fill these artworks to the brim.Info extracted: http://www.beprimitive.com/blog/filled-to-the-brim-african-figurative-ceramic-vesselsDimensions:approx.11,5 cm high, 16 cm in diameterCondition:This is very good in appearance without chips or parts missing, but has a large crack underneath.Despite this is in very stable condition and not about to break.Please see all photos Provenance: Former Seward Kennedy London, New York Collection;Acquired before 1980 ***In the summer of 2013 our shop featured in the BBC series Antiques Road Trip; we have also worked with prop-masters and costume designers in the film industry, supplying jewellery and antiques for productions such as Mr Holmes (with Ian Mckellan), Viceroy's House (directed by Gurinder Chadha), the upcoming Disney production Maleficient II, and the TV series Downton Abbey.

Price: 350 GBP

Location: Launceston

End Time: 2025-01-12T12:20:56.000Z

Shipping Cost: 30.74 GBP