Ashanti Akuaba Female Fertility doll - Mid XXth - Perfect condition.
NO RESERVE PRICE AUCTION.
Black shiny patina wood, T-shaped arms, ringed neck, eyes split in middle like on cowrie shells , round face with scarification's on the back, small breasts
Women carry the Akuaba's on their backs before and during pregnancy and treat them as real children and cover them with jewelry beads. The drawings on the back of the head give the kid's personality and is some kind of zodiacal sign.
After childbirth, the Akuaba is placed on an altar, or given to the child.
Estimated age: 1980's
Photo 1 : Asanta Atano shrine- Kumasi region, Ghana- 1976
Photo 2: An akua'ba tucked into the wrapper of an Asante woman.
Photograph by Herbert M. Cole, Ghana, 1972
Height 39 cm.
H= 43cm, on the custom made wood stand.
- Object
- Doll
- Indigenous object name
- Akuaba
- Ethnic group/ culture
- Ashanti
- Region/ country
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Material
- Wood
- Period
- Mid 20th century
- Condition
- As new - unused
- Sold with stand
- Yes
- Dimensions
- 39×14×5 cm