Koma Ceramic Funerary Figure, Based

A crosshatched beard, a square open mouth and a headband rolled like rope.

This based funerary figure is Koma, from Northern Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 13th to 17th century. It is terra cotta. The style takes its name from Koma Land, the area of northern Ghana where many of these terracottas were found, and the culture behind them is often called Koma-Bulsa. An open crown sits above a twisted headband and two round, ringed eyes. The nose is short and broad over a squared, open mouth, and below it a block of crosshatched clay suggests a beard. The form then tapers to a point. It is 7.1 inches high and 2.5 wide.

Seriousness, rendered in rope and crosshatch.