Ghana

In the valleys of Northern Ghana, the remains of a mysterious vanished culture have been emerging from ancient burial mounds. As in many ancient civilizations in both the old and new worlds, the burials are accompanied by terracotta sculptures that reveal much about the people who created them. The bold expressionism and appreciation for the human form that characterizes these works is unique in the canon of African art. This striking sculpture represents the protective spirit of a dead ancestor. A strongly modeled face sits atop a spike, intended to hold it upright in the ground. The shallow indentation in the top of the head is meant to hold fetish material. This head projects the impassive dignity of a god. The aura of an ancient magic radiates from it still.

Provenance: Galerie Majestic, Paris