Koma Terra Cotta Funerary Figure

Grey and glum, seated with big splayed hands and a lined, frowning face.

This Koma terra cotta funerary figure is Koma, from Northern Ghana, West Africa. Terra cotta is simply fired earthenware, and in West Africa it has been shaped into figures and vessels for well over a thousand years. Dark grey body seated upright, with a flat-topped head, deep-set ringed eyes and a down-turned mouth. A rope-like necklace circles the neck. Large, carefully scored hands rest on the knees beside a small textured patch at the lap. It is 3.5 inches wide, 3 deep and 5.4 high.

Frowning with total conviction, hands planted firmly on its knees.