Sculptures of Ancient Nigeria: NOK and IGBO UKWU

The African Continent is approximately 12 million square miles Basic Facts The African Continent is approximately 12 million square miles 3 times the size of the United States Population—approximately 750 million Over 2,000 ethnic groups with distinct languages and cultural patterns Diversity—peoples, geography, social and political organizations, Religious beliefs, etc

Map of Nigeria depicting the ancient culture areas

Conceptual basis of African Art Visual Metaphors Emotional Proportions Head—site of spirituality and personality

Nok: the birth of Art in Africa

Nok Culture -Found in North central Nigeria off the edge of the Jos Plateau The oldest known example of terracotta sculpture in Africa south of the Sahara Dates from 3000-1000 Before the Present (1000 BC- 1000 AD) -wide diversity of subject matter With considerable variation in style, treatment and scale Highly skilled in the creation of full-length human figures -well organized social, political and religious structures Art depicting images of dignitaries: rulers, priests and heroes Iron working culture With fragments of iron and beads recovered from furnaces

Style Elements -elaborate coiffure Cylindrical heads Pierced eyes, nose, mouth, and ears Semi-circular/triangular eyes and lids Ears set back, often low and small Flared nostrils

The Dinya Head Nok, Nigeria c. 500 BC – AD 200 ( 2500 – 1800 BP ) Terracotta 36 x 22.5 cm

Warrior Figure Nok, Nigeria Terracotta 88 x 23 x 20 cm

Female Pillar Statue Nok (Kuchanfa style) Terracotta, 2150BP

Amulet statuette, Nok, Nigeria Terracotta, 2350 BP, h. 5.5 in

Kneeling male figure, Nok, Nigeria Terracotta 65.5 x 19 x 23 cm

Head of a Bearded Man, Nok (Sokoto) Terracotta, 2300BP

Human/Bird Composite Birdman, Nok, Nigeria Terracotta 47 x 20 x 22 cm

Elephant, Nok, Terracotta, 2050BP

Statue on bended knee with Elephant and Feline, Nok, Terracotta, 2350 BP

Igbo Ukwu: Art of an ancient Aristocracy

Igbo Richard, Igbo Isaiah and Igbo Jonah Igbo Ukwu art comes from 3 Archaeological sites in southeastern Nigeria: Igbo Richard, Igbo Isaiah and Igbo Jonah -consists of objects made from bronze, terracotta, beads and Ivory -metal objects were made by the lost wax technique -they are believed to date to around 1100 BP(900 AD) -objects discovered in ancient burial chambers, shrines and storage areas -made by sophisticated bronze casting techniques Objects include bronze pendants, bowls, and shells

Caroline Sasson’s rendering of the burial chamber of Igbo Richard, Depicting the priest-king, Igbo Ukwu, Water color,

Caroline Sasson’s rendering of the storage house From Igbo Isaiah, depicting some of the sacred objects on an altar

Triton shell, Igbo Ukwu, Nigeria Leaded Bronze 1100 BP Skeumorph

Roped Vessel on a stand, Igbo Ukwu, Leaded bronze, 1100 BP (900AD)

Staff finial or flywhisk handle With an equestrian motif, Igbo Ukwu, Nigeria 9th century (1100 BP) Bronze h. 15.7 cm (6 3/16 in.) Striation emotional proportions

Head Pendant Igbo Ukwu, Nigeria 9th Century (1100 BP) Bronze h. 7.6 cm

Globular ceramic vessel with everted rim, Igbo Ukwu, Nigeria 9th Century (1100 BP), Terracotta, h. 40.6 cm