Akuaba fertility statue - Achantis - Ghana
06
days
09
hours
11
minutes
08
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
With almost a decade of experience bridging science, museum curation, and traditional blacksmithing, Julien has developed a unique expertise in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Description from the seller
The Akuaba doll, emblematic of the Ashanti (Asante) people of Ghana, is a powerful symbol of fertility, beauty, and hope. Recognizable by its wide circular head perched on a slender, stylized body, it presents sober features: a calm face, a long ringed neck, and streamlined geometric forms. This stylization is not decorative by chance; it reflects aesthetic and spiritual ideals deeply rooted in Ashanti culture.
Traditionally, the Akuaba is carried by women wishing to conceive a child. According to belief, caring for the doll as if it were a real baby — washing it, dressing it, carrying it on the back — promotes fertility and attracts the benevolence of spiritual forces. The large round head emphasizes the importance given to intelligence and vitality, while the smooth, high forehead is regarded as a sign of beauty.
Carved from wood, sometimes adorned with beads or pigments, the Akuaba is also given as a gift at births as a pledge of protection and prosperity. Beyond its ritual function, it embodies the continuity of life and attachment to tradition. Today it remains a major cultural object, at once a talisman, a work of art, and a symbol of Ashanti identity.
Presentation of our house of expertise
Based in Belgium, our house of expertise and sale specializes in African and ethnographic art. A leading seller on Catawiki for over 8 years, we benefit from a solid reputation and a history of several hundred sales with a nearly 100% satisfaction rate.
We regularly assist with liquidations, successions, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is rigorous, transparent, and accessible, with sales often offered without a reserve price.
Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.
Shipping guaranteed within 24 hours, with careful packaging, insurance, and tracking.
Contact 7 days a week: we remain available for any questions or requests for further information.
The Akuaba doll, emblematic of the Ashanti (Asante) people of Ghana, is a powerful symbol of fertility, beauty, and hope. Recognizable by its wide circular head perched on a slender, stylized body, it presents sober features: a calm face, a long ringed neck, and streamlined geometric forms. This stylization is not decorative by chance; it reflects aesthetic and spiritual ideals deeply rooted in Ashanti culture.
Traditionally, the Akuaba is carried by women wishing to conceive a child. According to belief, caring for the doll as if it were a real baby — washing it, dressing it, carrying it on the back — promotes fertility and attracts the benevolence of spiritual forces. The large round head emphasizes the importance given to intelligence and vitality, while the smooth, high forehead is regarded as a sign of beauty.
Carved from wood, sometimes adorned with beads or pigments, the Akuaba is also given as a gift at births as a pledge of protection and prosperity. Beyond its ritual function, it embodies the continuity of life and attachment to tradition. Today it remains a major cultural object, at once a talisman, a work of art, and a symbol of Ashanti identity.
Presentation of our house of expertise
Based in Belgium, our house of expertise and sale specializes in African and ethnographic art. A leading seller on Catawiki for over 8 years, we benefit from a solid reputation and a history of several hundred sales with a nearly 100% satisfaction rate.
We regularly assist with liquidations, successions, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is rigorous, transparent, and accessible, with sales often offered without a reserve price.
Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.
Shipping guaranteed within 24 hours, with careful packaging, insurance, and tracking.
Contact 7 days a week: we remain available for any questions or requests for further information.
Details
Indigenous object name
Akuaba fertility statue
Ethnic group/ culture
Achantis
Country of Origin
Ghana
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Excellent condition
Height
21 cm
Width
1 cm
Depth
1 cm
Weight
1 g
Provenance
Private collection
Sold by
