Loading, please wait...
LOT 2392
African Wooden 'Akuaba Doll' Wedding Fertility Figure Pair
ASHANTI TRIBE, EARLY-MID 20TH CENTURY A.D.
14 1/8 - 14 3/8 in. (985 grams total, 36-36.5 cm).
Each with exaggerated discoid head, squat body with stub arms, standing on a conical base. [2, No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom Ghana, West Africa.
Ex private Cheshire, UK, collection.
From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.
Among the Ashanti people in Ghana, women hoping for offspring carry these ‘Akuaba dolls’ in their clothes. Traditionally, these ‘Akuaba’ have a large, round, flat head that is reminiscent of its origin as a representation of the moon goddess, which is associated with fertility. Once the ‘Akuaba’ figure has fulfilled its purpose, the mother of the desired child places it on her domestic altar, where it is worshipped in a shrine, or she passes it on to the next generation.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
LOT 2392
African Wooden 'Akuaba Doll' Wedding Fertility Figure Pair
Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
-
African Wooden Ceremonial Face Mask
Ashanti Tribe, 20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
A carved tribal mask with copper to the face and back of the head, a single horn to the top of the head and stylised legs. 484 grams, 47.5 cm
From Ghana, West Africa. From an old Surrey, UK, oriental and ethnographical collection; acquired during 1950s. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman. -
African Wooden Ceremonial Face Mask
Chokwe Tribe, 20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
Carved and decorated with lengths of fiber representing hair, small nose, carved teeth and scarification marks. 525 grams, 28.5 cm
From Western Ivory Coast and into Liberia, West Africa. From the private collection of the late Brian Morley; acquired in the 1950s. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman. -
West African Squatting Stone Figure Pair
Kissi Tribe, early 20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7
Carved stone statues (twins) from Sierra Leone; two steatite anthropomorphic carvings, one male and one female, both with hands wrapped around the knees. 2.55 kg total, 20-23.5 cm
From Sierra Lione, West Africa. From an old Norwich, UK, collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.
The Kissi as early as the 15th century, revered soapstone (steatite) anthropomorphic carvings, which are found in fields and rivers in the area centered around Sewa and Mano rivers. The Kissi people call them Pomdo (Pombo), which mean "the deceased". Some of their carvings are extremely old. These statues were the abodes of the spirits of their ancestors. In order to find out which ancestor a statue represented; a man’s dreams were analyzed with the help of the diviner. At festivities the statue was wrapped in cotton upon which sacrificial blood had been poured. The owner (the guardian of the statue) placed it on the family altar; hence it was thought to be the family’s protector against sickness. It was also consulted before a new undertaking was planned. The statues were believed to have supernatural power and were used in rice cultivation. Remarkably, the descendants of the Kissi people still keep up the tradition of stone carving.
