Tekpe bowl
Igbo or Tiv People, Nigeria
Terra cotta
5.5" (14 cm) high by 4.5" (11.4 cm) wide by 5.5" (14 cm) long
Mid-20th century
Ex. private collection, New York

Magical substances would have been placed in the mouth of this tekpe or shrine vessel as a lizard or crocodile watched over the proceedings. There is some encrustation on the bottom, as seen in the last photo.
#6676

$300