Ancient Nok (Unknown)
Nok Culture (Nigeria)
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The Nok culture flourished in what is now central Nigeria from roughly 1500 BCE to 500 CE, producing some of the oldest known figurative sculptures in sub-Saharan Africa. Nok terracotta figures were first discovered in 1928 near the village of Nok in present-day Kaduna State during tin mining operations.
Nok terracottas are characterized by elongated proportions, elaborate hairstyles, pierced eyes and nostrils, and expressive faces. They range from a few inches to near life-size and depict both human figures and animals. The culture also produced early evidence of iron smelting in West Africa. Many Nok pieces have been looted from archaeological sites, and Nigeria has worked to repatriate works from international collections.
Sculptures by Ancient Nok (Unknown)
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About Ancient Nok (Unknown)
Nok terracottas are among the oldest figurative sculptures in sub-Saharan Africa, dating from roughly 1500 BCE to 500 CE. Found in central Nigeria, they feature distinctive elongated forms, elaborate hairstyles, and pierced triangular eyes.
The National Museum in Jos, Nigeria holds a major collection. Works also appear at the Louvre, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
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