Mambila Ceramic Figurative Vessel

A figure sits astride a sphere and grips it with studded arms.

This terra cotta vessel was made by Mambila potters of Cameroon, Central Africa, in the 20th century. Figures perched on a globe are a recurring form in Mambila earthenware, often associated with ceremonial use. The seated figure leans forward on bent legs, bare feet resting on the top of the round body. Its arms curve out in lines of raised pellets, and the face opens into a wide round mouth. The body is dark and smooth, with a beaded band across the shoulders.

About 18 inches tall. A tiny rider on a large planet.