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HOME :
African & Tribal Art :
Bankoni : Bankoni Terracotta Sculpture of a Woman
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Bankoni Terracotta Sculpture of a Woman - PF.5760
Origin: Mali
Circa: 12
th
Century AD
to 16
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
23" (58.4cm) high
x 6.25" (15.9cm) wide
Collection: African
Style: Bankoni
Medium: Terracotta
$5,000.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
The sculptures of the Bankoni came to light
during recent excavations in the area known as
the inland Niger River Delta in Mali. This
geographic region proved to be an artistic center
during the first half of the millennium. Although
the various civilizations remain unknown, we can
identify individual differences, and subtle
relations, through the stylistic unity of their
artistic creations. Of these several civilizations,
the Bankoni culture is one of the most famous
and perhaps most aesthetically enjoyable. This
terracotta sculpture of a woman is a fine
example, displaying the characteristic tendencies
of Bankoni art that make it so delightful. The
human figure is treated in such a way that the
form is both instantly recognizable and yet
vaguely abstract. The body is typically
elongated. The woman stands stiffly with her
arms pressed tightly against her sides. She does
not break the columnar shape of the contours
that confine her. Stylistically, this stretched-out
form is probably influence by other wooden
examples where the figure’s form would be
directly dictated by the shape of the tree;
however, due to the fragility of wood, none of
these sculptures have been preserved so we
cannot say for certain. Otherwise, the woman’s
upturned head with its prominent, protruding
ridge of her nose is characteristic of the Bankoni
style. She wears elaborate bracelets and anklets,
also prevalent in Bankoni sculpture. Her thick
legs reinforce her cylindrical shape and center
the weight of the figure. The mass of the lower
body contrasts with the relative lightness of the
heads, thus further emphasizing the soft,
pleasing molding of the face. Overall, this
remarkable sculpture is a glimpse into another
era. Holding this work we are taken back
another time and another world. The artistic
output of the Bankoni and other surrounding
tribes from the Niger River Delta represent some
of the oldest surviving examples of black African
art. This sculpture is the embodiment of the
birth and maturation of an style that would
influence the art of an entire continent, and in
turn, the world.
- (PF.5760)
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