Koma Ceramic Funerary Figure, Based

A rope-twist headband, big round eyes and lips folded into three neat ridges.

This funerary figure, based, is Koma, from Northern Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 13th to 17th century. It is terra cotta. Koma terracottas first came to wide attention after finds in the region in the late twentieth century, and research into their makers and meaning is still going on. A twisted headband crowns the open top. Two large eyes ringed with raised clay sit over a short nose, and the mouth is formed from several stacked ridges. Below, a broad post narrows slightly to a blunt, angled end. It is 7 inches high and 2.5 wide.

Lips pressed together in firm agreement.