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This Listing is for:
An Old Calabar Anthropomorphic Terracotta Pseudo Vessel Nigeria Africa
with NSIBIDI communication arrows https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/afar.2007.40.1.18
A very similar one in: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/478789004127927283/
Some time ago I read about the use of these vessels on this site but unfortunately the article (in French, has now disappeared). As far as I remember they were filled with grain and were used by the now distinct Agricultural society as ritual vessels to bless the crops ensure fertility of the earth.
May also have been funerary vessels that accompanied the dead.
Possible date: 11th-14th Century
approx.
Has a large crack near the middle of the "belly" of the vessel from where tiny grains come out.
I have tried to secure this at present but the vessel is quite delicate and needs careful handling.