Ashanti Bronze Gold Figural Weight Collection

Carved with tubular eyes, a wide mouth with metal plate teeth, a broad nose and raffia hair around the whole mask. 1.15 kg, face long: 28.5 cm



From Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia, West Africa. From an old Newbury, UK, ethnographic collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.

Masks are owned by families and used by individual lineage members in contexts of social control, boy’s circumcision camps, and entertainment. Most We masks were created to frighten with the gaping jaws and tubular eyes. Modern ethnology puts the Wobe and Guere together under the name We, despite the fact that the people themselves use the old names.

Comprising three kilted figures, each carrying a basket, in various poses. 105 grams total, 53-56 mm



From an old Oxford, UK, collection. From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.

Carved from dark-coloured, lightweight wood in traditional form and dyed dark brown with large, round head with a plain hairstyle, large eyes and zig-zag lines beneath, extending down the back and abdomen representing the typical tribal scarification marks. 250 grams, 30.5 cm



From Ghana, West Africa. Ex private collection of Mr.N.J., Leicester, UK. 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.