These African clay sculptures were first discovered in 1943 when tin mining operations started near the village of Nok on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. Since then numerous finds of sculpted terracotta heads, figures, animals, as well as pottery shards, have been discovered in a number of sites over a large part of Nigeria, extending 500 km east to west and 300 north to south. They are collectively known for the village by which the first finds were made: Nok terracottas.
In 1943 there were no archaeologists working in Nigeria and the finds were catalogued by art historians. Today, following more modern and accurate excavations, we know that the terracottas date back to a period from 500 BCE to 200 CE. Unfortunately several figures have appeared on the international art market form clandestine digs for which corroborative data is scarce.
The Nok terracottas are typically hollow sculptures, built up from coils of clay and fired in kilns. The extensive variation in form suggests that each was a one-off sculpture. In the majority of cases the sculpting detail was created by adding to the underlying structure, but a few rare cases show that Nok artists were also capable of reductive sculpture, removing substantial amounts of clay from an oversized initial form - a technique which may have developed from wood-carving.
Over the centuries the original surface of the Nok terracottas, formed using a clay slip, has eroded away leaving a grainy, pock-marked surface which shows the rough quality of the foundation clay used - often with small particles of gravel mixed in. Both the clay and gravel have been identified as coming from local sources.
The human sculptures, often found in fragments and restored by the archaeologist, have a particularly stylistic appearance. Heads are typically life sized or slightly larger and slightly elongated. Where a full figure has been unearthed, the body is not in proportion, creating a full figure up to 1.25 m in height. Complete figures are rare, and are either found in standing, sitting, or genuflecting positions. In more modern African sculptures a disproportionately large head signifies great intelligence or wisdom.
A typical Nok terracotta head has slightly triangular eyes, with the pupils formed by holes pushed through to the hollow core. Mouths, nostrils, and ears are also typically perforated. The striking aspect of the sculpture is the elaborately detailed hair, as well as further decoration with sculpted jewellery. In comparison animal sculptures are more realistic in appearance.
