Chamba Ceramic Vessel, Nigeria

A pot that looks back at you, mouth wide open.

Chamba potters of Nigeria, West Africa, shaped this terra cotta vessel in the 20th century. Clay vessels in the region are commonly made for storage, for offerings and for ritual use, and some carry faces or raised marks. Here a ridge of small bumps crowns the rounded body, and a modeled brow and nose run down toward the broad opening. The clay is a matte, sandy gray-brown, with a softly worn surface and slight irregularities from hand building.

About 7 inches tall. Set it on a shelf mouth-forward and let it do the talking.