Makonde Headdress Depicting Water Buffalo

The heavy head of a creature that is clearly listening.

Makonde craftsmen of Tanzania, East Africa, modeled this headdress depicting an animal in terra cotta in the 20th century. Headdresses and masks are commonly made for dances and ceremonies in the region. This one is a large, hollow head with long folded ears swept back, a broad snout with round nostrils, and a half-closed, narrow eye. It has a smooth, matte, dark grey-brown surface, with faint tool marks near the neck and a neat opening beneath.

About 7.5 inches tall. Sleepy-eyed, solid, and surprisingly gentle.