"Large Phallic Funerary Urn With Scarifications, Terracotta, Bura Niger, 200 To 1400 Ad"
AFRICAN ARCHAEOLOGYTribal art, civilizations
Large terracotta funerary urn BURA, Niger
The piece is decorated with geometric networks of scarifications in relief, typical of these pieces. (please check other similar examples in last photo)
Dated between 200 and 1400 AD
Old and local restoration halfway up the cylinder.
Dimensions:
67 cm height
and 19 cm diameter at the base
Sometimes called a "Bura bell" because of its shape, this sculptural terracotta object was part of the funerary ritual of the Bura tribe. Buried with its flared mouth facing downwards, this cylindrical container served to protect the deceased's belongings during their passage into the afterlife. Decorated with intricate incisions and dimples, this large terracotta container is phallic in its sculptural presence.
The Bura necropolis site was discovered in 1975 (still very recently), 150 km northwest of Niamey.
Bibliography
"Terres cuite africaines, un héritage millénaire", Collections du Musée Barbier-Muller de Genève, 2019, Editions d'art SOMOGY
Le Magazine de PROANTIC
TRÉSORS Magazine
Rivista Artiquariato