Koma Ceramic Funerary Figure, Based

A braided headband, a broad nose and a wide grin full of grooves.

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. Among Koma terracottas, long tapering heads like this are a recurring form, generally linked to funerary practice though not fully understood. A twisted band circles the flat top of the head, above small eyes and a wide nose. A broad mouth stretches across the face, with vertical grooves below that read as teeth or a beard. It narrows to a point on a slim black stand. It is 8 inches high.

It has been smiling for several centuries and shows no sign of stopping.