Stylistic Analysis of Igbo ’Laja Terracotta Sculptures of Owo

Abstract

This study is an attempt at identifying the stylistic variables as evident in the treatment of forms and features of the Owo terracotta sculptures with a view to determining sameness and differences (of hands) in the production of the sculptures. Efforts made so far have basically identified either, features that can be linked with styles of other art traditions (of Ife and Benin) in the sculptures or those characteristic features that differentiate Owo terracotta arts from these traditions using the “group theory”. This study focussed mainly on the distinctive traits that are indeed peculiar to Owo and cannot be found even in the neighbouring art traditions. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources with the study relying heavily on primary sources of data. Critical observation of the sculptures were made for proper formal analysis while heads and fragments of heads were purposively selected for a meaningful stylistic analysis, since the available heads and assembled head fragments do not merge appropriately with the headless bodies and other assembled fragments. Interviews were also conducted with the head of the local artists’ guild in Owo. The secondary sources provided information on previous studies on art traditions acclaimed as having noticeable stylistic similarities to the Owo terracotta sculptures (i.e. Ife and Benin). The paper posits that, despite the diversity of styles or sub-styles in the sculptures, they generally depict mood and movement, a trait found to be distinctive of Owo terracotta sculptures.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4s2p216