Koma Ceramic Funerary Figure, Based

A crested head, a toothy grin and a beard, all perched on a proper pair of shoulders.

This funerary figure, based, is Koma, from Northern Ghana, West Africa, and dates to the 13th to 17th century. It is terra cotta. Busts with shoulders and arms are generally counted among the more ambitious Koma terracottas. A ridge runs up over the top of the head like a crest, above a beaded hairline and coiled eyes. The mouth is open to show teeth, framed by a ridged beard. A long neck rises from a beaded collar, and the torso below has rounded shoulders and arms close at the sides. It is 7.75 inches high, 3 wide and 2.5 deep.

Clearly the one in charge of the conversation.