Akan Bronze Seated Figure Holding a Mirror – Ghana An evocative bronze figure from the Akan people of Ghana, depicting a seated individual holding a mirror. The Akan, one of West Africa’s most influential cultural groups, are renowned for their sophisticated casting techniques, symbolic art, and powerful visual language that often conveys layered meanings of status, identity, and morality. The mirror in this piece is especially striking. In Akan tradition, mirrors are more than objects of vanity — they symbolize self-reflection, spiritual awareness, and sometimes even the ability to see into other realms. Figures such as this one may have been created to embody wisdom, authority, or ritual power, representing leaders, ancestors, or symbolic guardians. Crafted with a strong sense of stylization, the figure sits in a chair, gaze lifted, one hand resting while the other firmly grasps the mirror. The patina, developed over time, adds a rich green and brown surface that enhances the sense of age and authenticity. Such works were often cast using the lost-wax technique, a method the Akan mastered centuries ago and applied not only to art but also to the production of gold weights, regalia, and ritual objects. The Akan are perhaps most famous for their deep use of symbolism in art and storytelling, with every object carrying moral or social meaning. This figure reflects that tradition — a reminder that art in Akan culture is never merely decorative but always tied to community, spirituality, and memory. A powerful and thought-provoking piece, it stands as both an artwork and a cultural document, linking us to the world of the Akan: a people whose influence stretched across trade, politics, and art in West Africa. Dating to the mid-20th century, it remains a striking example of the enduring artistry of Ghana’s Akan people. Dimensions: 75 x 40 x 90 mm Weight: 172g.