Mask - Ghana (No reserve price)

During adolescence, every Ashanti girl received a carved ritual doll that she wore on her person, attached to her belt to promote fertility.

Later, once the girl was pregnant, the doll was slipped into the loincloth against her belly to influence the health and beauty of the unborn child.

The legend of the origin of the Akuaba doll goes as follows: a woman named Akua could not become pregnant. After consulting a local priest, she had a small wooden doll carved for herself. She began to care for the doll as if it were her own child. Soon, the villagers began to call her 'Akuaba'—meaning 'child of Akua'. Shortly thereafter, she became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy daughter.

In terms of symbolism, the large flat, round head represents the ideal of beauty among Ashanti women. The ringed neck, a stylized depiction of fat folds in the neck, is a symbol of beauty and prosperity. The small scars visible on the doll's face correspond to scarifications made for medicinal purposes such as protection against convulsions.