A beautiful vintage Ashanti Akuaba doll, made in Ghana. It has the typical and classical anthropomorphised shape, the main handle is the body, with a T shape form to suggest the arms, the ringed neck and a large round disc-shaped head. A beautiful and delicate carving with stylized yet expressive eyes, an elegant nose line and finely detailed hair. There are three holes on the head where jewellery was once attached. Akuaba dolls were exclusively the property of women who would carry the akua’ba held on by her cloth at the back in the position in which a real child is carried. The doll was carried face forward with only the top of the back of the head protruding from the cloth. The doll was carried until the woman became unmistakeably pregnant or successfully delivered her child. 28,5 cm high 10 X 4 cm Overall good condition with wear consistent with age. Overall a superb and charming work of art with a strong presence.