Koma Ceramic Funerary Figure, Based

Coiled eyes, a squared jaw and a beard stippled with dots, all on a head shaped like a spike.

This funerary figure is Koma, from Northern Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 13th to 17th century. It is terra cotta, mounted on a base. Koma terracottas often reduce the face to a few bold elements on a tapering body. Here the open top of the head sits over large spiral eyes and a short nose. A wide mouth projects above a rectangular beard covered with small punched marks, and the form tapers below to a blunt point. It is held on a slim black stand. It is 8 inches high.

Simple means, and a stare that is hard to forget.