Koma Ceramic Funerary Figure, Based

Bulging eyes set wide, and a chin wrapped in heavy rolls of clay.

This funerary figure, based, is Koma, from Northern Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 13th to 17th century. It is terra cotta. The clay of Koma figures ranges from pale buff to deep red, generally reflecting local soils and firing conditions. A beaded band tops the head above two large, bulging eyes and a small nose. Below, the mouth disappears into thick horizontal ridges that wrap the lower face. A long, slightly curving post makes up the rest, its surface rough and reddish brown. It is 7.75 inches high, 2.5 wide and 2.25 deep.

Wide-eyed, and taking it all in.