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Large man figure

Nok terracotta bust with hands and beard

Nok terracotta bust with hands and beard

Thermoluminescence Certificate

Nok terracotta bust with hands and beard

This Nok terracotta sculpture features bold facial features and intricate detailing, typical of the ancient Nigerian tradition. Its expressive form and weathered texture highlight its historical significance. Likely part of a larger figure, it shares stylistic traits with similar Nok artifacts.

Material: Terracotta | Height: 37cm

Provenance: French private collection

Origin: Nigeria, circa 5th c.BCE – 5th c.CE

Acquired: Fauve Paris auction house

Thermoluminescence certificate (2011)

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Short man figure

Nok terracotta bust with amazing energy

Nok terracotta bust with rare hat

Nok terracotta bust

Thermoluminescence certificate

This compact Nok terracotta male figure wears a striking headpiece – a hybrid between a warrior's helmet and sculpted hair, its geometric ridges suggesting both protection and status. Pierced almond-shaped eyes peer from beneath this armored crown with a strong jawline and stylized beard. The piece carries the quiet authority of a fragment from a lost epic.

Material: Terracotta | Height: 32cm

Provenance: French private collection

Origin: Nigeria, circa 5th c.BCE – 5th c.CE

Acquired: Fauve Paris auction house

Thermoluminescence certificate (1999)

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Man's head

Nok terracotta man head with beard

Nok terracotta man back head

Nok terracotta man head

Thermoluminescence certificate

This Nok terracotta head features an elaborate crown-like hairstyle with meticulously incised patterns, framing a face of serene authority. The broad, symmetrical planes of the forehead contrast with the delicate perforations of the almond-shaped eyes and subtly parted lips. A short, textured beard completes the composition, each detail testifying to the sculptor’s precision.

Material: Terracotta | Height: 24cm

Provenance: French private collection

Origin: Nigeria, circa 5th c.BCE – 5th c.CE

Acquired: Fauve Paris auction house

Thermoluminescence certificate (2009)

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About Nok terracottas

Nok terracottas: Echoes of an ancient legacy

These expressive figures, often with detailed hairstyles and pierced features, reveal a rich cultural and symbolic tradition. Technical studies reveals the use of refined clay, controlled firing, and hollow modeling techniques. Dating back to 1500 century BCE and 500 century CE, the Nok terracotta sculptures are among the earliest known examples of three-dimensional figurative art not just in sub-Saharan Africa, but in Africa as a whole.

They are originated from central Nigeria surrounding the village of Nok, the northern Nigerian states of Katsina and Sokoto and nearby sites. They precede other art traditions like the Ife bronzes (12th–15th century CE) and Benin bronzes (13th century CE onward). Their discovery reshaped global understanding of Africa’s ancient civilizations and artistic heritage. The objects came from an area that had no significant controlled archaeological excavation until Professor Peter Breunig and his team began their digs in 2005, in the Nok region, in collaboration with Nigerian archaeologists. The other areas, Sokoto and Katsina, still await archaeological excavation, although they are heavily pockmarked by local, amateur treasure hunters. Consequently, we know almost nothing about the cultures that created these works of art.

Archaeological discoveries and Grae's collection

Full Lecture: 1:20:25 | Hosted by Yale University Art Gallery

About lecture

After decades of limited research following the foundational work of Bernard Fagg in the mid-20th century, Professor Breunig and his team brings to light the results of fieldwork initiated in 2005.

His long-term archaeological project, conducted in close collaboration with Nigerian institutions, has transformed our understanding of Nok culture. Unlike earlier studies that relied heavily on looted artifacts and surface finds, Breunig's work emphasizes contextual excavation, radiocarbon dating, and interdisciplinary analysis, placing Nok culture within a broader narrative of African prehistory.

Grae's collection

The Grae's collection of Nok terracottas, is the most important and extensive of authentic ancient Nigerian art outside Nigeria. Donated to Yale, adds a layer of historical depth, revealing how artifacts tied to anti-colonial movements and Black diaspora activism entered the Western institutions.

Collected by civil rights leader Bayard Rustin during Nigeria’s independence era, these ancient sculptures—preserved unrestored—reflect a legacy of cultural reclamation and solidarity. The collection serves as a vital resource for scholars and students, offering deep insights into early African art and culture. The essay highlights this unique provenance, challenging colonial narratives and reframing how collections are understood: not as detached relics, but as testaments to activism, identity, and ethical responsibility.

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from Grae's collection

from Grae's collection

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